Summary
Advocates are pushing for the restoration of the OP_CAT command in Bitcoin’s programming language to bring more functionality to the cryptocurrency. The proposed change, with the BIP number 420, aims to enable developers to create covenants on Bitcoin for automated payments and reversible transactions. The proposal was crafted by developers from Botanix Labs and BastionZero, with support from Taproot Wizards. The 420 link is seen as a way to appeal to a wider audience.
Key Points
1. Advocates are trying to reintroduce a Satoshi-era command called “OP_CAT” into Bitcoin’s programming language to bring more functionality to the platform. This command, if approved, could enable developers to create covenants on Bitcoin, allowing for conditions on how Bitcoin can be spent in the future.
2. The proposal for OP_CAT, including the addition of 420 as the purported BIP number, has not yet been assigned a BIP number in the code repository where proposed changes to Bitcoin’s software are typically vetted. This proposal was shared by Taproot Wizards co-founder Udi Wertheimer and outlines the potential benefits of adding OP_CAT to Bitcoin’s toolbox.
3. Taproot Wizards, a firm associated with the movement to expand Bitcoin’s capabilities beyond traditional monetary transactions, has been involved in promoting the OP_CAT proposal and pushing the technical envelope on Bitcoin. The proposal aims to build on the Taproot upgrade from 2021 and address historic concerns surrounding OP_CAT’s potential for misuse in a denial of service attack.