> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.int3face.zone/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# tBTC & nBTC: Technical

* Comparisons
* tBTC & nBTC: Technical

On this page

# tBTC Main Components Diagram

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/bitfrst/PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N/docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/tbtc_components-493a4be7125e5d1988a972b221a34ac4.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N&q=85&s=8475fc128cae311f76d9c76ae9e0dc61" alt="1" width="1371" height="481" data-path="docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/tbtc_components-493a4be7125e5d1988a972b221a34ac4.png" />

To start the tBTC node validator needs:

1. tBTC node

2. Access to the Ethereum API

   * By running their own ETH node
   * OR using 3rd-party RPC provider

3. Access to the Bitcoin API - tBTC requires using Electrum protocol for BTC communication

   * By running their own Electrum Personal Server (includes full BTC node)
   * OR using public Electrum Server

# iBTC Main Components Diagram

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/bitfrst/PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N/docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/ibtc_components-c61f8f0aacfb3817e0f8f1fd37fa3dd9.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N&q=85&s=5b5d69680319802eb547d2635aba8005" alt="2" width="1021" height="351" data-path="docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/ibtc_components-c61f8f0aacfb3817e0f8f1fd37fa3dd9.png" />

To start the iBTC node validator needs:

1. iBTC node

2. Observer node

3. Access to the Int3face API
   * By running their own INT3 node

4. Access to the Bitcoin API

   * By running their own node
   * OR using 3rd-party dedicated node

# tBTC Hardware Recommendations

Recommended hardware to run a singe tBTC v2 node: 2 vCPU / 2 GB RAM / 1 GiB Persistent Storage

# iBTC Hardware Recommendations

Estimated recommended hardware to run a single iBTC node: 8 vCPU / 64 GB RAM / 1+ TB Persistent Storage

# tBTC signing timeline

1. Signers announce readiness - \~1.2 minutes (6 ETH blocks)
2. Signature production - \<= 6 minutes (\<= 30 ETH blocks)
3. Cooldown - \~1 minute (5 ETH blocks)

In total - \~8 minutes (41 ETH blocks)

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/bitfrst/PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N/docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/tbtc_signature_timeline-c7d87369d15d911e72223b745b262c66.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N&q=85&s=11fcff15430b671ef468d555fdfba66b" alt="1" width="678" height="407" data-path="docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/tbtc_signature_timeline-c7d87369d15d911e72223b745b262c66.png" />

In case of signature failure - next attempt will be performed after 41 block window. Maximum is 5 signing attempts. Worst case scenario - signature will take 205 blocks or \~40 minutes on ETH

# iBTC signing timeline

According to the [Thorchain's benchmarks](https://github.com/thorchain/Resources/blob/master/Whitepapers/THORChain-TSS-Benchmark-July2020.pdf) TSS signature production for 10 nodes takes around 10 seconds.

In case of signature failure - next attempt will be performed ASAP. We have a total timeout of 5 minutes for signing.

# tBTC complete timeline

## Inbound transfer[​](#inbound-transfer "Direct link to Inbound transfer")

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/bitfrst/PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N/docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/tbtc_inbound_timeline-e52119dae6556bcf938c7273a5eefcf9.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N&q=85&s=c01f4bf9dd5865ef4f49850afd79f124" alt="2" width="799" height="250" data-path="docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/tbtc_inbound_timeline-e52119dae6556bcf938c7273a5eefcf9.png" />

## Outbound transfer[​](#outbound-transfer "Direct link to Outbound transfer")

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/bitfrst/PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N/docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/tbtc_outbound_timeline-2b4473040111f57550d9f4f02a3712d6.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N&q=85&s=37a2121b14477b74bd6a8788b20831aa" alt="3" width="981" height="250" data-path="docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/tbtc_outbound_timeline-2b4473040111f57550d9f4f02a3712d6.png" />

# iBTC complete timeline

## Inbound transfer[​](#inbound-transfer-1 "Direct link to Inbound transfer")

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/bitfrst/PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N/docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/ibtc_inbound_timeline-39abc892d8790c7e13d6396d23a85fdd.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N&q=85&s=b16717d4e5d6b0851c8462b72babe791" alt="4" width="909" height="221" data-path="docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/ibtc_inbound_timeline-39abc892d8790c7e13d6396d23a85fdd.png" />

## Outbound transfer[​](#outbound-transfer-1 "Direct link to Outbound transfer")

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/bitfrst/PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N/docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/ibtc_outbound_timeline-196cc6e2616cf77d4b1144365b334dad.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PNBlJ--Erkkbd-1N&q=85&s=c6adf7b086e8c401aa7cb880a9f703a4" alt="5" width="1009" height="250" data-path="docs/comparisons/docs/assets/images/ibtc_outbound_timeline-196cc6e2616cf77d4b1144365b334dad.png" />