Rootstock Infrastructure Framework (RIF) is a collection of open-source, decentralized protocols that aim to facilitate the development of distributed applications (dApps) within a unified environment. RIF OS protocols are designed to enable broad interoperability and faster time-to-deployment, striving to bridge the gap between blockchain technologies and their mass-market adoption. RIF OS protocols are built on top of the Rootstock (RSK) Smart Contract Network, which is the first open-source smart contract platform with the Bitcoin Network's backing. The RIF token is used as a means of accessing and paying for RIF OS services.

RIF works by providing a set of protocols that developers and organizations can use to access a variety of services across multiple crypto-economies. These protocols include RIF Name Service (RNS), a decentralized service that allows users to have a readable domain or alias, and RIF Gateways, which develops tools and technologies to allow decentralized applications to seamlessly connect to the external world. RIF OS protocols are implemented on top of the Rootstock Smart Contract Network, which is backed by the Bitcoin Network, providing a foundation for the development of dApps.

RIF aims to enable the development of accessible DeFi products. These products can include services that allow users to send digital assets anywhere in the world, utilize USD-pegged stablecoins, access community-supported lending mechanisms, and pay utility bills and receive salaries in crypto. RIF also provides the RIF Name Service (RNS), which can be used to identify personal resources, such as payment or communication addresses, making it easier for users to interact with blockchain technologies.

RIF Labs, the company behind the construction of the RIF OS Protocols, acquired RSK Labs, the company behind the Rootstock Smart Contract Network. The acquisition was driven by the shared principles and mission of both companies to enhance the lives of individuals around the world by building a blockchain-based infrastructure. RIF Labs chose to build its implementation of RIF OS Protocols on top of the Rootstock Smart Contract Network due to its unique position as the first open-source smart contract platform backed by the Bitcoin Network.