Bitcoin is poised for its next evolutionary phase as Beyond builds a groundbreaking interoperability bridge connecting BTC’s security with modern blockchain ecosystems. This development promises to merge traditional finance with decentralized networks while unlocking Bitcoin’s dormant utility in DeFi. The initiative represents a fundamental shift in how Bitcoin can participate in the global financial architecture.
about Beyond Bridge Unlocks Bitcoin's DeFi Potential with InteroperabilityBRC-20
0 in Finance and 0 in Crypto last weekBitcoin Taproot Upgrade Falls Short, Says Core Developer
Bitcoin Core developer Jimmy Song has delivered a scathing critique of the network’s Taproot upgrade, declaring it a failure that not only fell short of its promised privacy and security enhancements but also inadvertently opened the door to network-clogging spam transactions through Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens. In a recent video statement, Song argued that developers overlooked critical social vulnerabilities, transforming what was meant to be a landmark improvement into what he describes as a symbolic disappointment for the Bitcoin community.
about Bitcoin Taproot Upgrade Falls Short, Says Core DeveloperBRC-20 Tokens Strain Bitcoin Nodes More Than Ordinal Images
BitMEX Research’s comprehensive study analyzed the impact of BRC-20 tokens and Ordinal images on Bitcoin node performance over nearly three years. While both use approximately 30GB of storage, BRC-20 tokens account for 92.5 million transactions compared to Ordinals’ 2.7 million. The key finding shows BRC-20 transactions strain nodes more significantly by expanding the UTXO set from 84 million to 169 million between 2022-2025, creating challenges especially for pruned nodes. Surprisingly, large Ordinal images stored in Taproot’s non-executed witness space actually showed potential verification speed improvements of about 11%, though researchers caution this doesn’t make them beneficial overall due to blockspace consumption concerns. The study emphasizes that internet speed and hardware variations require further testing for conclusive results.
about BRC-20 Tokens Strain Bitcoin Nodes More Than Ordinal ImagesBRC-20 2.0 Upgrade Brings EVM Smart Contracts to Bitcoin
The BRC-20 protocol has officially launched its 2.0 upgrade at Bitcoin block height 912690, embedding Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) functionality directly into Bitcoin’s native indexer system. Developed by Best In Slot in collaboration with creator Domo and the Layer 1 Foundation, this upgrade transforms BRC-20 from a simple token standard into a Turing-complete platform capable of supporting Ethereum-style smart contracts. The integration allows developers to build decentralized applications directly secured by Bitcoin while maintaining full compatibility with Ethereum’s tooling ecosystem. This represents a significant leap forward for Bitcoin-native assets, which have seen over $3 billion in trading volume despite being primarily limited to meme coins. The upgrade positions BRC-20 ahead of competing standards like Runes by enabling a full DeFi ecosystem on Bitcoin, potentially sparking renewed institutional interest and driving another bull run for Bitcoin-based assets.
about BRC-20 2.0 Upgrade Brings EVM Smart Contracts to BitcoinBitcoinFi Surges: $10B Staked, $5.5B in L2s, $175M Funding
Maestro’s latest report highlights BitcoinFi’s rapid expansion, with over $10 billion in staked BTC, including $3.32 billion in re-staking. Layer 2 solutions now hold $5.52 billion in TVL, led by Stacks, while stablecoins reach $860 million in TVL. Venture funding has rebounded to $175 million across 32 deals, signaling strong investor confidence. The ecosystem is diversifying with innovations in liquid staking tokens, dual-token models, and Bitcoin-native lending. Despite challenges like fragmented liquidity, BitcoinFi is emerging as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized finance, with growing enterprise adoption and developer activity.
about BitcoinFi Surges: $10B Staked, $5.5B in L2s, $175M FundingBitcoin’s Cold War: 3,000 Nodes at Risk in Core Policy Clash
Bitcoin Core’s decision to remove the 80-byte OP_RETURN relay cap has sparked a divisive policy war, with a GitHub script now targeting Bitcoin Knots nodes (13% of reachable peers) for auto-banning. The conflict centers on whether larger data payloads undermine Bitcoin’s monetary focus, with Knots gaining adoption as critics like Luke Dashjr call Core’s move ‘utter insanity.’ Unlike the block size wars, this relay policy split doesn’t require consensus changes but risks network partitioning if peer bans spread. Core’s v30 release in October will enforce the change, leaving miners and node operators to decide whether to propagate data-heavy transactions. With Knots nodes at a record 2,938 and banning tools proliferating, Bitcoin faces its first major operational divide since 2017.
about Bitcoin's Cold War: 3,000 Nodes at Risk in Core Policy ClashBitcoin’s Big Change: OP_RETURN Limit Scrapped
In May, Bitcoin implemented a major change by eliminating the OP_RETURN limit, which previously restricted transactions with files larger than 80 bytes. This shift acknowledges the growing demand for Bitcoin-based applications, including NFTs via the BRC-20 standard. The decision challenges the views of Bitcoin maximalists who oppose such developments. Additionally, the potential for a native Bitcoin app layer could offer advantages over using BTC on other networks like Ethereum. Jack Dorsey’s bullish $1 million Bitcoin price prediction by 2030 might factor in these expanding use cases, signaling a possible evolution in Bitcoin’s role beyond just a store of value.
about Bitcoin's Big Change: OP_RETURN Limit Scrapped