BITCOIN SEASON 2: An Insiders Look Into Bitcoin Development

ReardenCode discusses how we should reframe discussions around Bitcoin soft forks, explaining the capabilities-focused approach to opcodes rather than focusing solely on protocols. The conversation covers SegWit, Taproot, OP_CAT, and MEV concerns.

Apr 9, 2025

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ReardenCode, independent Bitcoin developer and freedom advocate, joins us to talk about reframing how we think about Bitcoin soft forks. Reardon breaks down opcodes, explains why we should focus on capabilities rather than protocols, and explores the historical context of Bitcoin's upgrades from SegWit to Taproot. The conversation goes deep on OP_CAT, CTV, and CHECKSIGFROMSTACK while but tries to make the topics approachable approachable.

Follow our guests: @ReardenCode

Notes:

- Bitcoin is the first digitally scarce asset

- OP_CAT enables five different capabilities

- SegWit enabled non-third party malleable txs

- Taproot enabled hidden script paths

- CTV+CSS combo enables rebindable signatures

- MEV concerns can probably be scoped and managed

Check out our Bitcoin scaling conference! Visit opnext.dev to learn more.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start

01:28 What is Bitcoin?

02:36 What's an OP code?

05:41 How to think about OP codes

07:39 Capabilities examples

10:17 Explaining OP codes

12:03 What do we want?

13:24 Why did SegWit NOT do more?

15:22 Taproot

18:50 Arch

19:25 Hidden script paths

22:13 CTV

31:55 OP_CAT

35:11 Check Contract Verify

36:33 Introduction of "state" & MEV

37:07 MEV

40:29 Limiting MEV

43:36 The problems of OP_CAT

48:26 The current consensus

52:22 Wrap up

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