Rootstock has achieved a significant milestone with its hash rate reaching 81% as of Q1 2025, leading to increased security in Bitcoin DeFi. This boost comes through key mining pools like Foundry and SpiderPool, contributing to a more secure infrastructure following recent crypto thefts. The platform’s advancements offer a reduction in transaction fees, making it a competitive option within the DeFi space. While this progress is notable, total value locked (TVL) and user activity have seen declines in Q1 2025. This decline, however, presents an opportunity for Rootstock to expand its presence through core upgrades like reduced transaction fees and investments in developer education programs.