Bitcoin (35)

Have you heard of the Runes Protocol? It's a unique addition to the Bitcoin environment, providing a fresh perspective on fungible tokens compared to protocols like BRC-20 and Taproot Assets. What makes it so different? Unlike other token standards, the UTXO-structured system incorporated into the Bitcoin network has an added focus on user-friendliness.

From being a flight to quality to legalizing Bitcoin use in Argentina , Bitcoin is kicking up a storm in the crypto market and showing no signs of slowing down since its bottom in January 2023 after the FTX crash. With a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval on the horizon, many believe that Bitcoin is en route to an all-time high as interest from traditional finance (TradFi) traders and institutions could propel BTC prices upwards.

How has a single document reshaped money and technology? Fifteen years ago, the Bitcoin white paper emerged as a modest proposal for a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Today we reflect on the influential effect Bitcoin has had on multiple industries, recognizing not only its arrival but the ongoing economic transformation that's occurring as a result.

The emergence of  ordinals  and  BRC-20 tokens  sparked a lively debate within the Bitcoin community. On the one hand, enthusiasts celebrated the newfound potential these innovations bring to the Bitcoin blockchain. On the other hand, concerns have been raised about the rise in gas fees, longer transaction times, and the potential occupation of valuable block space by ordinals and BRC-20 tokens.

A token generation event (TGE) refers to a crypto project creating and releasing a digital token to eligible users. TGEs usually involve the release of a utility token for the crypto project or service in question rather than coins, which often represent a store of value. TGEs can therefore be a significant moment in a project's roadmap and catalyst for growth.

As we might be entering a 2024 crypto bull run , it's useful to understand the main indicators and tools to trade Bitcoin. Whether you're new to trading crypto or are something of a veteran, the idea of trading Bitcoin might have crossed your mind. After all, Bitcoin has stood the test of time by proving itself to be the digital gold of the crypto scene. It's also one of the original cryptocurrencies that's disrupting the world of traditional finance. Compared to stocks and commodities, which have been around for centuries, Bitcoin is a relatively new asset. This is why newcomers and experienced traders alike often ask how to trade Bitcoin.

Since Bitcoin's inception in 2008 with a white paper authored by Satoshi Nakamoto, the token has rapidly evolved into a global phenomenon, captivating the attention of financial institutions, governments, and the public.

Among crypto's sea of acronyms, UTXO is one of the most significant. A fundamental component in Bitcoin transactions, UTXO — which stands for Unspent Transaction Output — helps to keep things running smoothly on the network. So, if you trade BTC, it's important to understand what UTXO is, how it works, and the benefits UTXO brings. We'll explain all in the following article.

In the volatile world of crypto trading, sentiment tools can often be handy for both short-term and long-term traders who are navigating the uncertainty. While not fool-proof, these tools are often considered influential when making crypto trading decisions. They can offer an immediate sense of how the majority of traders are positioned. One trusted example of such a sentiment tool is the ETH/BTC ratio.

The Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP), introduced in 2011, allows the Bitcoin community to suggest, discuss, and implement changes to Bitcoin's protocol. Anyone can start a BIP by drafting a detailed proposal, which the community reviews. If the proposal is considered valuable, it's formally submitted for approval.

While the crypto industry has adopted plenty of concepts from traditional finance, it’s also created its fair share. One concept that’s emerged from the crypto industry is block rewards. Block rewards

Casey Rodarmor created the  ordinals protocol  with Bitcoin node operators in mind. While the protocol recommends running a full Bitcoin node to participate, doing so can be expensive, take a lot of storage space, and require technical expertise to maintain.

For centuries, gold has stood the test of time with little competition as an asset. To many, it’s the perfect asset. It's scarce and has become a sought-after metal. It’s long been a bastion of value and a hedge against economic turmoil. However, Bitcoin has challenged gold’s position in the last few years, leading some to call it “digital gold”.

One of the first concepts that an aspiring Bitcoin trader needs to understand is how trading actually works. In order to do so, it is highly important to understand trading terminology. More specifica

Cryptocurrency mining is an essential process that secures and verifies transactions within a blockchain network. Miners use computational power to solve complex mathematical problems, validate transa

Are you tired of boring digital collectibles? If so, now's your chance to add some pizzazz to your collection with BTC digital artifacts. The world of NFTs became much more interesting with the introduction of ordinal theory — a newly emergent protocol that's creating plenty of buzz in 2023. The concept allows each satoshi, the smallest unit of Bitcoin, to be ranked, ordered, inscribed, and individually transferred. But that's not all. Individual satoshis can also be inscribed with unique, immutable data stored entirely on the blockchain.

Runes is a new development in the Bitcoin ecosystem that emerged in early 2024. The protocol applies Bitcoin's underlying UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) system to create a fungible token standard. With this, Runes makes creating and managing digital assets on the Bitcoin blockchain easier, and could extend Bitcoin's functionality beyond just buying and selling the token.

When it comes to building a portfolio for the long haul, traders often look towards long-standing, blue-chip stocks and exchange-traded funds tracking the Standard and Poor's 500 (S&P 500). Given their time-tested narrative and popularity among institutions, it's no surprise why such assets are top picks for anyone new to the world of traditional finance (TradFi).

To many, Bitcoin represents the pinnacle of crypto, being the most widely-known cryptocurrency to date. The coin runs on a decentralized blockchain technology network, providing reliability and openness for all transactions. Bitcoin has changed how we think of the concept of money, enabling peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions across the world without the need for traditional financial intermediaries like banks.

BRC-20 has taken the Bitcoin community by storm since @Domodata created it on March 8, 2023. But what is the BRC-20 token standard? BRC-20 is a fungible token standard made explicitly for the Bitcoin blockchain.

A beginner-friendly introduction to Bitcoin’s SegWit, including what SegWit is, why it’s important, and what it achieves When Satoshi Nakamoto designed Bitcoin , he stipulated that the capacity of each block should not exceed one million, and the number of transactions that can be recorded in each one million capacity is extremely limited. In the earliest days, the capacity of each block of one million was enough to cope with the transaction volume of the niche market, but when the number of Bitcoin players surged, it became particularly congested.

The Taproot upgrade marked an interesting chapter in Bitcoin’s history when it launched in November 2021. One upgrade the industry is starting to witness more and more of is the network's smart contract capabilities. Taproot is designed to meet the growing demands of Bitcoin users while staying true to its decentralized roots.

Are you seeing Runes projects flooding your X timeline? If so, you may be wondering how to buy or trade them. Similar to non-fungible tokens, projects built on the Runes protocol have their own marketplace, too.

April 19, 2024 saw the arrival of the fourth Bitcoin halving event — a significant development affecting the asset's circulation. But what is the Bitcoin halving exactly? According to the Bitcoin white paper , it's a built-in feature of Bitcoin's programming that occurs approximately every four years. This unique event cuts the number of Bitcoins awarded to miners for processing transactions in half. Why does this matter? Well, it's all about supply and control.