diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8f136cec21..3904cf0a1b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 
 - `Gadgets.rangeCheck64()`, new provable method to do efficient 64-bit range checks using lookup tables https://github.com/o1-labs/o1js/pull/1181
 
+- Added bitwise `XOR` operation support for native field elements. https://github.com/o1-labs/o1js/pull/1177
+
 - `Proof.dummy()` to create dummy proofs https://github.com/o1-labs/o1js/pull/1188
   - You can use this to write ZkPrograms that handle the base case and the inductive case in the same method.
 
diff --git a/src/bindings b/src/bindings
index 6db2442764..dbe878db43 160000
--- a/src/bindings
+++ b/src/bindings
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 6db2442764e48977dc25145b5b048f272e3995f5
+Subproject commit dbe878db43d256ac3085f248551b05b75ffecfda
diff --git a/src/examples/gadgets.ts b/src/examples/gadgets.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2048b294fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/examples/gadgets.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { Field, Provable, Gadgets, Experimental } from 'o1js';
+
+const XOR = Experimental.ZkProgram({
+  methods: {
+    baseCase: {
+      privateInputs: [],
+      method: () => {
+        let a = Provable.witness(Field, () => Field(5));
+        let b = Provable.witness(Field, () => Field(2));
+        let actual = Gadgets.xor(a, b, 4);
+        let expected = Field(7);
+        actual.assertEquals(expected);
+      },
+    },
+  },
+});
+
+console.log('compiling..');
+
+console.time('compile');
+await XOR.compile();
+console.timeEnd('compile');
+
+console.log('proving..');
+
+console.time('prove');
+let proof = await XOR.baseCase();
+console.timeEnd('prove');
+
+if (!(await XOR.verify(proof))) throw Error('Invalid proof');
+else console.log('proof valid');
diff --git a/src/examples/primitive_constraint_system.ts b/src/examples/primitive_constraint_system.ts
index 17735faa04..1ef5a5f87c 100644
--- a/src/examples/primitive_constraint_system.ts
+++ b/src/examples/primitive_constraint_system.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Field, Group, Poseidon, Provable, Scalar } from 'o1js';
+import { Field, Group, Gadgets, Provable, Scalar } from 'o1js';
 
 function mock(obj: { [K: string]: (...args: any) => void }, name: string) {
   let methodKeys = Object.keys(obj);
@@ -63,4 +63,16 @@ const GroupMock = {
   },
 };
 
+const BitwiseMock = {
+  xor() {
+    let a = Provable.witness(Field, () => new Field(5n));
+    let b = Provable.witness(Field, () => new Field(5n));
+    Gadgets.xor(a, b, 16);
+    Gadgets.xor(a, b, 32);
+    Gadgets.xor(a, b, 48);
+    Gadgets.xor(a, b, 64);
+  },
+};
+
 export const GroupCS = mock(GroupMock, 'Group Primitive');
+export const BitwiseCS = mock(BitwiseMock, 'Bitwise Primitive');
diff --git a/src/examples/regression_test.json b/src/examples/regression_test.json
index e492f2d163..817796fa3a 100644
--- a/src/examples/regression_test.json
+++ b/src/examples/regression_test.json
@@ -164,5 +164,18 @@
       "data": "",
       "hash": ""
     }
+  },
+  "Bitwise Primitive": {
+    "digest": "Bitwise Primitive",
+    "methods": {
+      "xor": {
+        "rows": 15,
+        "digest": "b3595a9cc9562d4f4a3a397b6de44971"
+      }
+    },
+    "verificationKey": {
+      "data": "",
+      "hash": ""
+    }
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/examples/vk_regression.ts b/src/examples/vk_regression.ts
index 6dbcd31373..a76b41aef4 100644
--- a/src/examples/vk_regression.ts
+++ b/src/examples/vk_regression.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { Voting_ } from './zkapps/voting/voting.js';
 import { Membership_ } from './zkapps/voting/membership.js';
 import { HelloWorld } from './zkapps/hello_world/hello_world.js';
 import { TokenContract, createDex } from './zkapps/dex/dex.js';
-import { GroupCS } from './primitive_constraint_system.js';
+import { GroupCS, BitwiseCS } from './primitive_constraint_system.js';
 
 // toggle this for quick iteration when debugging vk regressions
 const skipVerificationKeys = false;
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ const ConstraintSystems: MinimumConstraintSystem[] = [
   TokenContract,
   createDex().Dex,
   GroupCS,
+  BitwiseCS,
 ];
 
 let filePath = jsonPath ? jsonPath : './src/examples/regression_test.json';
diff --git a/src/lib/field.ts b/src/lib/field.ts
index 29193d64db..5d810ef20f 100644
--- a/src/lib/field.ts
+++ b/src/lib/field.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export {
   withMessage,
   readVarMessage,
   toConstantField,
+  toFp,
 };
 
 type FieldConst = [0, bigint];
@@ -1245,13 +1246,24 @@ class Field {
   /**
    * **Warning**: This function is mainly for internal use. Normally it is not intended to be used by a zkApp developer.
    *
-   * As all {@link Field} elements have 31 bits, this function returns 31.
+   * As all {@link Field} elements have 32 bytes, this function returns 32.
    *
-   * @return The size of a {@link Field} element - 31.
+   * @return The size of a {@link Field} element - 32.
    */
   static sizeInBytes() {
     return Fp.sizeInBytes();
   }
+
+  /**
+   * **Warning**: This function is mainly for internal use. Normally it is not intended to be used by a zkApp developer.
+   *
+   * As all {@link Field} elements have 255 bits, this function returns 255.
+   *
+   * @return The size of a {@link Field} element in bits - 255.
+   */
+  static sizeInBits() {
+    return Fp.sizeInBits;
+  }
 }
 
 const FieldBinable = defineBinable({
diff --git a/src/lib/gadgets/bitwise.ts b/src/lib/gadgets/bitwise.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..53e6c432a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/gadgets/bitwise.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+import { Provable } from '../provable.js';
+import { Field as Fp } from '../../provable/field-bigint.js';
+import { Field } from '../field.js';
+import * as Gates from '../gates.js';
+
+export { xor };
+
+function xor(a: Field, b: Field, length: number) {
+  // check that both input lengths are positive
+  assert(length > 0, `Input lengths need to be positive values.`);
+
+  // check that length does not exceed maximum field size in bits
+  assert(
+    length <= Field.sizeInBits(),
+    `Length ${length} exceeds maximum of ${Field.sizeInBits()} bits.`
+  );
+
+  // obtain pad length until the length is a multiple of 16 for n-bit length lookup table
+  let padLength = Math.ceil(length / 16) * 16;
+
+  // handle constant case
+  if (a.isConstant() && b.isConstant()) {
+    let max = 1n << BigInt(padLength);
+
+    assert(
+      a.toBigInt() < max,
+      `${a.toBigInt()} does not fit into ${padLength} bits`
+    );
+
+    assert(
+      b.toBigInt() < max,
+      `${b.toBigInt()} does not fit into ${padLength} bits`
+    );
+
+    return new Field(Fp.xor(a.toBigInt(), b.toBigInt()));
+  }
+
+  // calculate expected xor output
+  let outputXor = Provable.witness(
+    Field,
+    () => new Field(Fp.xor(a.toBigInt(), b.toBigInt()))
+  );
+
+  // builds the xor gadget chain
+  buildXor(a, b, outputXor, padLength);
+
+  // return the result of the xor operation
+  return outputXor;
+}
+
+// builds a xor chain
+function buildXor(
+  a: Field,
+  b: Field,
+  expectedOutput: Field,
+  padLength: number
+) {
+  // construct the chain of XORs until padLength is 0
+  while (padLength !== 0) {
+    // slices the inputs into 4x 4bit-sized chunks
+    // slices of a
+    let in1_0 = witnessSlices(a, 0, 4);
+    let in1_1 = witnessSlices(a, 4, 4);
+    let in1_2 = witnessSlices(a, 8, 4);
+    let in1_3 = witnessSlices(a, 12, 4);
+
+    // slices of b
+    let in2_0 = witnessSlices(b, 0, 4);
+    let in2_1 = witnessSlices(b, 4, 4);
+    let in2_2 = witnessSlices(b, 8, 4);
+    let in2_3 = witnessSlices(b, 12, 4);
+
+    // slices of expected output
+    let out0 = witnessSlices(expectedOutput, 0, 4);
+    let out1 = witnessSlices(expectedOutput, 4, 4);
+    let out2 = witnessSlices(expectedOutput, 8, 4);
+    let out3 = witnessSlices(expectedOutput, 12, 4);
+
+    // assert that the xor of the slices is correct, 16 bit at a time
+    Gates.xor(
+      a,
+      b,
+      expectedOutput,
+      in1_0,
+      in1_1,
+      in1_2,
+      in1_3,
+      in2_0,
+      in2_1,
+      in2_2,
+      in2_3,
+      out0,
+      out1,
+      out2,
+      out3
+    );
+
+    // update the values for the next loop iteration
+    a = witnessNextValue(a);
+    b = witnessNextValue(b);
+    expectedOutput = witnessNextValue(expectedOutput);
+    padLength = padLength - 16;
+  }
+
+  // inputs are zero and length is zero, add the zero check - we reached the end of our chain
+  Gates.zero(a, b, expectedOutput);
+
+  let zero = new Field(0);
+  zero.assertEquals(a);
+  zero.assertEquals(b);
+  zero.assertEquals(expectedOutput);
+}
+
+function assert(stmt: boolean, message?: string) {
+  if (!stmt) {
+    throw Error(message ?? 'Assertion failed');
+  }
+}
+
+function witnessSlices(f: Field, start: number, length: number) {
+  if (length <= 0) throw Error('Length must be a positive number');
+
+  return Provable.witness(Field, () => {
+    let n = f.toBigInt();
+    return new Field((n >> BigInt(start)) & ((1n << BigInt(length)) - 1n));
+  });
+}
+
+function witnessNextValue(current: Field) {
+  return Provable.witness(Field, () => new Field(current.toBigInt() >> 16n));
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/gadgets/bitwise.unit-test.ts b/src/lib/gadgets/bitwise.unit-test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4b92ce7aff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/gadgets/bitwise.unit-test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import { ZkProgram } from '../proof_system.js';
+import {
+  Spec,
+  equivalent,
+  equivalentAsync,
+  field,
+  fieldWithRng,
+} from '../testing/equivalent.js';
+import { Fp, mod } from '../../bindings/crypto/finite_field.js';
+import { Field } from '../field.js';
+import { Gadgets } from './gadgets.js';
+import { Random } from '../testing/property.js';
+
+let Bitwise = ZkProgram({
+  publicOutput: Field,
+  methods: {
+    xor: {
+      privateInputs: [Field, Field],
+      method(a: Field, b: Field) {
+        return Gadgets.xor(a, b, 64);
+      },
+    },
+  },
+});
+
+await Bitwise.compile();
+
+let uint = (length: number) => fieldWithRng(Random.biguint(length));
+
+[2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128].forEach((length) => {
+  equivalent({ from: [uint(length), uint(length)], to: field })(
+    Fp.xor,
+    (x, y) => Gadgets.xor(x, y, length)
+  );
+});
+
+let maybeUint64: Spec<bigint, Field> = {
+  ...field,
+  rng: Random.map(Random.oneOf(Random.uint64, Random.uint64.invalid), (x) =>
+    mod(x, Field.ORDER)
+  ),
+};
+
+// do a couple of proofs
+await equivalentAsync(
+  { from: [maybeUint64, maybeUint64], to: field },
+  { runs: 3 }
+)(
+  (x, y) => {
+    if (x >= 2n ** 64n || y >= 2n ** 64n)
+      throw Error('Does not fit into 64 bits');
+    return Fp.xor(x, y);
+  },
+  async (x, y) => {
+    let proof = await Bitwise.xor(x, y);
+    return proof.publicOutput;
+  }
+);
diff --git a/src/lib/gadgets/gadgets.ts b/src/lib/gadgets/gadgets.ts
index b4c799b2cb..5f993a9727 100644
--- a/src/lib/gadgets/gadgets.ts
+++ b/src/lib/gadgets/gadgets.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
  * Wrapper file for various gadgets, with a namespace and doccomments.
  */
 import { rangeCheck64 } from './range-check.js';
+import { xor } from './bitwise.js';
 import { Field } from '../core.js';
 
 export { Gadgets };
@@ -33,4 +34,31 @@ const Gadgets = {
   rangeCheck64(x: Field) {
     return rangeCheck64(x);
   },
+
+  /**
+   * Bitwise XOR gadget on {@link Field} elements. Equivalent to the [bitwise XOR `^` operator in JavaScript](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/Bitwise_XOR).
+   * A XOR gate works by comparing two bits and returning `1` if two bits differ, and `0` if two bits are equal.
+   *
+   * This gadget builds a chain of XOR gates recursively. Each XOR gate can verify 16 bit at most. If your input elements exceed 16 bit, another XOR gate will be added to the chain.
+   *
+   * The `length` parameter lets you define how many bits should be compared. `length` is rounded to the nearest multiple of 16, `paddedLength = ceil(length / 16) * 16`, and both input values are constrained to fit into `paddedLength` bits. The output is guaranteed to have at most `paddedLength` bits as well.
+   *
+   * **Note:** Specifying a larger `length` parameter adds additional constraints.
+   * It is also important to mention that specifying a smaller `length` allows the verifier to infer the length of the original input data (e.g. smaller than 16 bit if only one XOR gate has been used).
+   * A zkApp developer should consider these implications when choosing the `length` parameter and carefully weigh the trade-off between increased amount of constraints and security.
+   *
+   * **Note:** Both {@link Field} elements need to fit into `2^paddedLength - 1`. Otherwise, an error is thrown and no proof can be generated..
+   * For example, with `length = 2` (`paddedLength = 16`), `xor()` will fail for any input that is larger than `2**16`.
+   *
+   * ```typescript
+   * let a = Field(5);    // ... 000101
+   * let b = Field(3);    // ... 000011
+   *
+   * let c = xor(a, b, 2);    // ... 000110
+   * c.assertEquals(6);
+   * ```
+   */
+  xor(a: Field, b: Field, length: number) {
+    return xor(a, b, length);
+  },
 };
diff --git a/src/lib/gadgets/gadgets.unit-test.ts b/src/lib/gadgets/range-check.unit-test.ts
similarity index 93%
rename from src/lib/gadgets/gadgets.unit-test.ts
rename to src/lib/gadgets/range-check.unit-test.ts
index 13a44a059d..669f811174 100644
--- a/src/lib/gadgets/gadgets.unit-test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/gadgets/range-check.unit-test.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ let maybeUint64: Spec<bigint, Field> = {
 // do a couple of proofs
 // TODO: we use this as a test because there's no way to check custom gates quickly :(
 
-equivalentAsync({ from: [maybeUint64], to: boolean }, { runs: 3 })(
+await equivalentAsync({ from: [maybeUint64], to: boolean }, { runs: 3 })(
   (x) => {
     if (x >= 1n << 64n) throw Error('expected 64 bits');
     return true;
diff --git a/src/lib/gates.ts b/src/lib/gates.ts
index 503c4d2c6a..1a5a9a3c00 100644
--- a/src/lib/gates.ts
+++ b/src/lib/gates.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Snarky } from '../snarky.js';
 import { FieldVar, FieldConst, type Field } from './field.js';
 
-export { rangeCheck64 };
+export { rangeCheck64, xor, zero };
 
 /**
  * Asserts that x is at most 64 bits
@@ -42,6 +42,49 @@ function rangeCheck64(x: Field) {
   );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Asserts that 16 bit limbs of input two elements are the correct XOR output
+ */
+function xor(
+  input1: Field,
+  input2: Field,
+  outputXor: Field,
+  in1_0: Field,
+  in1_1: Field,
+  in1_2: Field,
+  in1_3: Field,
+  in2_0: Field,
+  in2_1: Field,
+  in2_2: Field,
+  in2_3: Field,
+  out0: Field,
+  out1: Field,
+  out2: Field,
+  out3: Field
+) {
+  Snarky.gates.xor(
+    input1.value,
+    input2.value,
+    outputXor.value,
+    in1_0.value,
+    in1_1.value,
+    in1_2.value,
+    in1_3.value,
+    in2_0.value,
+    in2_1.value,
+    in2_2.value,
+    in2_3.value,
+    out0.value,
+    out1.value,
+    out2.value,
+    out3.value
+  );
+}
+
+function zero(a: Field, b: Field, c: Field) {
+  Snarky.gates.zero(a.value, b.value, c.value);
+}
+
 function getBits(x: bigint, start: number, length: number) {
   return FieldConst.fromBigint(
     (x >> BigInt(start)) & ((1n << BigInt(length)) - 1n)
diff --git a/src/lib/int.ts b/src/lib/int.ts
index f4143a9a5b..a48118fa2c 100644
--- a/src/lib/int.ts
+++ b/src/lib/int.ts
@@ -458,6 +458,7 @@ class UInt32 extends CircuitValue {
   static MAXINT() {
     return new UInt32(Field((1n << 32n) - 1n));
   }
+
   /**
    * Integer division with remainder.
    *
diff --git a/src/lib/testing/equivalent.ts b/src/lib/testing/equivalent.ts
index c19748624e..22c1954a91 100644
--- a/src/lib/testing/equivalent.ts
+++ b/src/lib/testing/equivalent.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export {
   handleErrors,
   deepEqual as defaultAssertEqual,
   id,
+  fieldWithRng,
 };
 export { field, bigintField, bool, boolean, unit };
 export { Spec, ToSpec, FromSpec, SpecFromFunctions, ProvableSpec };
@@ -240,6 +241,10 @@ let boolean: Spec<boolean, boolean> = {
   back: id,
 };
 
+function fieldWithRng(rng: Random<bigint>): Spec<bigint, Field> {
+  return { ...field, rng };
+}
+
 // helper to ensure two functions throw equivalent errors
 
 function handleErrors<T, S, R>(
diff --git a/src/snarky.d.ts b/src/snarky.d.ts
index 7fb7f27fb8..512ac61ed1 100644
--- a/src/snarky.d.ts
+++ b/src/snarky.d.ts
@@ -306,6 +306,26 @@ declare const Snarky: {
       ],
       compact: FieldConst
     ): void;
+
+    xor(
+      in1: FieldVar,
+      in2: FieldVar,
+      out: FieldVar,
+      in1_0: FieldVar,
+      in1_1: FieldVar,
+      in1_2: FieldVar,
+      in1_3: FieldVar,
+      in2_0: FieldVar,
+      in2_1: FieldVar,
+      in2_2: FieldVar,
+      in2_3: FieldVar,
+      out_0: FieldVar,
+      out_1: FieldVar,
+      out_2: FieldVar,
+      out_3: FieldVar
+    ): void;
+
+    zero(in1: FieldVar, in2: FieldVar, out: FieldVar): void;
   };
 
   bool: {