Bitcoin is the first and most widely recognized blockchain. The primary purpose of the Bitcoin network has always been to serve as a decentralized, peer-to-peer money transfer system at its core without the need for a central authority. However, it is also frequently compared to digital gold, providing crypto users with a secure store of value.
In short, Bitcoin provided consumers with a means to become their own banks. Staying true to its original intent, most Bitcoin users were satisfied with its security and preferred to use Bitcoin solely for its core values.
However, the Taproot upgrade and the subsequent development of the Bitcoin Ordinals protocol opened up an entirely new realm of opportunities on Bitcoin. Now, alternative assets have emerged as a major movement. New ideas spark further innovation, and one notable example of this is the BRC-20 protocol.
But what exactly are BRC-20 tokens? Let’s explore and find out.
BRC-20 tokens started out as an experiment to create fungible tokens on the Bitcoin network.
If that sounds confusing—fear not! Put simply, fungible tokens are digital assets that are identical and interchangeable. For example, imagine you have a physical coin. If you exchange this coin for another of the same kind, the value of your asset remains the same, even though it’s not the same coin. This is the essence of fungibility; it means you can swap one with another identical version.
Commonly, you will encounter fungible tokens using decentralized applications. However, the Bitcoin network doesn’t support complex smart contracts that enable this sort of application. As a result, Bitcoin was slower to evolve an ecosystem of alternative assets until the launch of the Ordinals protocol.
To understand how Ordinals relate to the BRC-20 protocol, let’s go back to the very beginning.
History of BRC-20 Tokens
In November 2021, Bitcoin underwent an update named Taproot. This increased the amount of data allowed in Bitcoin blocks and thus opened the door to new capabilities. While there had been several attempts to include larger amounts of data on the Bitcoin network, there was no standardized method, and doing so was not commonplace.
A couple of years later, in January 2023, Casey Rodarmor brought the Bitcoin Ordinals protocol to life. Essentially, it allowed the Bitcoin network to support something close to NFTs. The protocol introduced a method of inscribing information, such as images or text, onto individual Satoshis (the smallest denominations of Bitcoin possible). The interesting thing about Satoshis is that they have a built-in rarity system. Sats are assigned a “serial number” based on the order in which they are mined on the Bitcoin blockchain. This gives an ordinal number for each Satoshi, allowing you to track the history of each one.
Satoshis mined within the first 1,000 blocks, or even those mined by Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto himself, have inherent value. Since Satoshi Nakamoto has been inactive for a long time, these Sats are also quite scarce. Today, there’s a whole market dedicated just to these rare Sats, never mind those with inscriptions.
This attracted a whole new audience to the Bitcoin network: collectors. Quickly, everyone wanted to inscribe ordinals, with the community testing the protocol to its limits. That’s where the BRC-20 protocol comes in.
Bitcoin developer Domo (@domodata) used the Ordinals protocol to build the groundwork for a new fungible token protocol, BRC-20. Using the Ordinals protocol as its base tech, the BRC-20 protocol allows you to issue currencies on the first and most popular blockchain, Bitcoin. The test protocol launched in March 2023, and since then, it has seen a lot of success.
What is The BRC-20 Protocol?
The Ordinals protocol inscribes uniqueness onto the granular level of satoshis, revolutionizing the concept of digital assets on the Bitcoin blockchain. This protocol extends Bitcoin’s utility beyond a peer-to-peer cash system to a platform for unique digital collectibles.
Ordinals fundamentally reshape our understanding of Bitcoin’s potential, bridging the gap between fungibility and scarcity.
– Serialization of satoshis: Providing a distinctive ordinal number to each Bitcoin subunit.
– Inscriptive capability: Allowing the embedding of metadata directly onto a satoshi.
– Enhanced asset individuality: Distinguishing each satoshi as a one-of-a-kind digital canvas.
– Immutable provenance tracking: Ensuring the historical lineage of each inscribed satoshi.
– Creation of sat-based NFT-like assets: Fostering a new class of collectibles within Bitcoin’s ecosystem.
BRC-20 Token Standard
The BRC-20 token standard is an experimental fungible token standard designed specifically for the Bitcoin blockchain. But who created the BRC-20 token standard? The BRC-20 token standard was created in early March 2023 by Domo, an enigmatic blockchain analyst. The standard supports the creation and transfer of fungible tokens via the Ordinals protocol. ORDI, VMPX, and PEPE are examples of popular tokens on the BRC-20 token list.
By adopting the BRC-20 standard, Bitcoin expands its capabilities beyond its original design, embracing the exciting realm of tokenization and opening new possibilities for decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain applications.
How Does BRC-20 Work?
BRC-20 tokens are essentially ordinals inscribed with specific standardized information. To explain, BRC-20 tokens are always inscribed with JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) data. This code gives the ordinal its extra functionality. While the BRC-20 standard is still limited, this small amount of code allows you to deploy, mint, and transfer tokens on the Bitcoin network.
BRC-20 tokens, although considered fungible, have some unique characteristics that make them semi-fungible. Here’s how they operate:
Minting BRC-20 tokens:
To create BRC-20 tokens, a user generates a mint JSON NFT that specifies the desired quantity of tokens. The user then participates in a priority gas auction, competing with others, to finalize the minting process.
Exchanging BRC-20 tokens:
When exchanging BRC-20 tokens natively on the Bitcoin network, the seller must use transfer NFTs to divide their original mint NFT into smaller chunks, enabling the sale of predefined batches of tokens. To purchase a specific amount of BRC-20 tokens, the buyer needs to find a seller who has the exact quantity they want to buy.
Determining BRC-20 token balances:
To check the balance of BRC-20 tokens in a wallet, users must rely on an off-chain indexer that adheres to the rules defined by the token’s inscriptions. Merely running a Bitcoin full node is insufficient for accurately calculating BRC-20 token balances. By understanding these key aspects of BRC-20 tokens, users can effectively navigate the process of minting, exchanging, and tracking their BRC-20 token balances on the Bitcoin network.
What is the Difference Between BRC-20 and ERC-20 Tokens?
Simply put, we are comparing a Bitcoin asset to an Ethereum asset. But of course, there’s more to it.
For starters, BRC-20 tokens are much more limited than their Ethereum token counterparts. To explain, many blockchains have their own virtual machines that can execute smart contracts. For Ethereum and Solana, that’s the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). These virtual machines can read and execute code, which allows for more complex assets and conditions related to those assets.
Here’s where the big difference lies: Bitcoin does not use a virtual machine, and this poses some limitations. For example, BRC-20 tokens are not interoperable—you can’t easily transfer them to other chains. Additionally, Bitcoin cannot handle complex tokens or store extra information outside of the blockchain, unlike Ethereum, which can use EVM to find files stored on IPFS and other decentralized storage protocols.
Furthermore, since the Bitcoin network uses a proof-of-work consensus, it is much slower, more expensive, and energy-consuming than Ethereum, which uses proof-of-stake. This means creating BRC-20 tokens requires more time, money, and resources than just releasing an ERC-20 token. However, this same proof-of-work mechanism means that Bitcoin tokens are much more secure and immutable than ERC-20 tokens.
While ERC-20 tokens have been established for a longer time and have many tokens built on the Ethereum blockchain, BRC-20 tokens are still in their early stages of development. Some of the top BRC-20 tokens include ORDI (the first BRC-20 token), PEPE, MEME, PIZA, and RARE, but their demand and value are still being established.
BRC-20 Tokens vs. Bitcoin Runes: What’s the Difference?
In 2024, Casey Rodarmor launched the Bitcoin Runes protocol as a more efficient way to create fungible Bitcoin assets. While Bitcoin Runes are similar to BRC-20 assets, they are more data- and energy-efficient. They don’t create “junk UTXOs” and store data more immutably as well.
The other difference lies in their compatibility. Bitcoin Runes are Lightning Network compatible and don’t require Taproot-compatible wallets.
Use Cases of BRC-20 Tokens
BRC-20 tokens serve various use cases, including:
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Transfer
Users can utilize BRC-20 tokens for peer-to-peer transactions between wallets on the network. Since BRC-20 tokens are based on Bitcoin, transaction fees are charged in Bitcoin.
Tokenization
With further development, BRC-20 tokens can be used to create crypto assets that are pegged to other commodities, such as fiat currency or gold. Users can use JSON code to define token characteristics and properties, including supply, minting, and issuance mechanisms through ordinal inscriptions.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
BRC-20 tokens present an opportunity to enhance the growth and liquidity of the Bitcoin blockchain. By integrating additional features, these tokens can be incorporated into DeFi exchanges, yield farming protocols, and GameFi applications.
These are some of the potential use cases for BRC-20 tokens, which may evolve as the standard and ecosystem continue to develop.
Understanding BRC-20 Tokens
Though we refer to BRC-20 tokens as fungible entities, it is more accurate to call them semi-fungible, as these tokens can only be exchanged in predefined increments. If someone wants to mint BRC-20 tokens:
– The foremost step is to create a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) Non-Fungible Token (NFT) defining the particular amount to be minted.
– Then they must compete with others via a lead gas auction so that the mint can be finalized.
– Additionally, to exchange the token natively on Bitcoin, the seller must create a transfer NFT to divide the original mint into smaller chunks, initiating the sale of predefined batches of tokens.
Moreover, if a buyer wants to purchase BRC-20 tokens, they must follow the rules of the barter system, where they need to find a seller willing to sell the exact quantity of BRC-20 tokens they want to buy.
Impacts of BRC-20 Tokens on Transaction Fees
Devising and transferring BRC-20 tokens require more space on the blockchain compared to peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. For instance, a traditional Bitcoin transaction needs kilobytes, while BRC-20 tokens, which are layered on ordinal inscriptions, require a space of 4 MB.
One of the key reasons for the increase in transaction fees is the difference between traditional NFTs and Ordinal Bitcoin NFTs. In ordinals, all the data is directly stored on-chain, so whatever data and instructions are summed up to the inscription become part of the transaction. However, traditional Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) point to an external source of information, where the art or data is stored.
Future of BRC-20
The market for BRC-20 is rapidly expanding. A total of 14,709 different tokens made using the BRC-20 standard have already appeared in the crypto world, and the number is growing. BRC-20 is becoming a new revolution, with its tokens fast approaching a market cap of $1 billion.
On top of that, the team behind BRC-20 is rapidly evolving, and they have promised to enhance the features of BRC-20, which will make it easier for developers to create tokens using the standard. We should anticipate seeing even more tokens and financial products employing BRC-20 as the DeFi space grows. In summary, BRC-20 is likely to have a bright future, playing a significant role in the world of cryptocurrencies.
Where Can I Trade BRC-20 Tokens?
BRC-20 tokens can be traded in two ways:
Listed BRC-20 Exchanges – You can buy or sell BRC-20 tokens through centralized or decentralized exchanges (DEX) where they are listed and then store them in supporting wallets. Crypto exchanges for trading BRC-20 tokens include Binance, OKX, Deepcoin, Bitrue, B20 by Alex, and CoinW.
Ordinal Exchange — You will need an ordinal wallet to trade on the ordinal exchange. Follow these steps:
– Go to ordinalswallet.com and create an ordinal wallet. Make sure to back up your secret phrase.
– To find all listed BRC-20 tokens on the platform, click on “BRC-20” in the navigation bar.
– Select the token you wish to buy from the given token list to see available tokens for sale. Next, click the “Buy Now” option to purchase a token.
Advantages of BRC-20 Tokens
Benefits of BRC-20 Tokens
Low Transaction Fees: BRC-20 tokens, typically associated with the Binance Smart Chain, offer lower transaction fees compared to Ethereum-based ERC-20 tokens. This makes them more cost-effective for users, especially in high-frequency trading and DeFi transactions.
High Throughput: Binance Smart Chain’s consensus mechanism allows for higher transaction throughput compared to Ethereum, enabling faster confirmation times for BRC-20 token transactions. This scalability feature enhances the user experience and facilitates smoother DeFi interactions.
EVM Compatibility: BRC-20 tokens are compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing developers to leverage existing Ethereum tooling, libraries, and infrastructure for Binance Smart Chain projects. This interoperability simplifies token deployment and enhances developer flexibility.
Interoperability: BRC-20 tokens can seamlessly interact with various decentralized applications (dApps) and protocols within the Binance Smart Chain ecosystem, fostering interoperability and enabling diverse use cases such as decentralized exchanges, yield farming, and NFT platforms.
Risks of The BRC-20 Protocol
Of course, like with any new asset class, BRC-20 tokens pose some challenges.
Energy and Data Inefficient: Due to Bitcoin’s PoW mechanism and how the BRC-20 protocol is designed, deploying, minting, and transferring tokens consume a lot of energy. The protocol has also been criticized for creating “junk UTXOs,” meaning it is not as efficient as it could be.
Expensive: As the BRC-20 protocol uses a lot of energy and isn’t always efficient, it can also be expensive to inscribe, distribute, and manage BRC-20 assets.
Limited Functionality Compared to EVM Chains: If you’re looking for programmable tokens, BRC-20 tokens may seem limited in functionality. However, as the protocol evolves, this could change.
Highly Experimental: As the BRC-20 protocol is entirely experimental, the assets it creates are high-risk and have an uncertain future.
Conclusion
BRC-20 tokens are currently in their experimental stages, and might face challenges ahead. However, with continued development and integrations, BRC-20s hold the potential to unlock new opportunities for DeFi projects and decentralized applications (dApps) within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Traders and investors are encouraged to carefully monitor market liquidity, diversify their portfolios, and employ adequate risk management strategies.
