Fintech company Metallicus has launched an alpha version of its DogecoinVM payment layer on the Metal Blockchain mainnet, saying it makes Dogecoin transactions 300 times faster. The system operates alongside, rather than modifying, Dogecoin Core and preserves its UTXO model (unspent transaction output structure), allowing existing wallets, private keys and D-format addresses to remain compatible. DogecoinVM uses the Snowman consensus protocol, a Proof-of-Stake system, to finalize transactions in 0.15–0.25 seconds. It uses a two-way bridge in which DOGE is locked on the original network and a collateral-backed equivalent is issued at a 1:1 ratio on DogecoinVM. The source code is available on GitHub, but the system has not received an independent security audit. Metallicus has capped individual deposits at 100 DOGE and advised users to keep balances small while it works toward SOC 2 security standards for the banking sector. CEO and Dogecoin Foundation board member Marshall Hayner said the broader objective is practical use across fintech companies, banks, credit unions and platforms, including potential integration with social network X.