Bitcoin
A Deep Dive into Layer 2 Technologies
Today, Marcin Kaźmierczak in Redstone Oracles explains how Bitcoin Layer 2 aims to improve the performance of the protocol while preserving its integrity by deploying improvements on a separate blockchain.
Many consultants attended Consensus 2024 in Austin, Texas last week. I highlight the main themes that emerged from the event in Ask an Expert. I’m looking forward to next year conferencewhich will be held in Toronto, Canada.
Bitcoin (Bitcoin) revolutionized the financial world with its decentralized, secure and transparent nature. Although it was the first cryptocurrency, Ethereum (ETH) pioneered the development of the entire decentralized financial ecosystem, or DeFi. Now, Bitcoin is following suit, ushering in an era of development within its own ecosystem. As Bitcoin’s popularity increased, so did challenges related to its scalability and transaction speed. To solve these problems, the Bitcoin community has developed several layer 2 blockchains, or L2s, that improve the network’s efficiency and functionality without changing Bitcoin’s software itself. This article delves into Bitcoin’s Layer 2 concept, exploring its classifications, benefits, and expected advancements in this sector. By understanding these innovative protocols, users can understand how Bitcoin continues to evolve and maintain its relevance in an increasingly competitive digital landscape. Ultimately, the cryptocurrency bitcoin is digital gold and the entire economy is being created around it, analogous to gold in the physical world.
Q: What are Bitcoin Layer 2 and how are they classified?
A: They are built on the Bitcoin blockchain. Transactions can be transferred to them, addressing the performance issues and limitations of the Bitcoin blockchain and adding programming functionality. There are three types of Bitcoin layer 2:
Q: What problems do Bitcoin L2s fix and why are they important?
A: Bitcoin layer 2 addresses important issues to improve network efficiency and functionality. First, they improve scalability by reducing congestion. As a result, transaction fees are lower and execution is faster, making Bitcoin more suitable for everyday use. L2s also increase the utility of bitcoin assets and introduce complex smart contract functionality, enabling DeFi, NFTs and other Web3 applications. This improved programmability helps Bitcoin maintain market relevance. They expand Bitcoin’s use cases and ensure easier and more accessible transactions. Ultimately, Bitcoin L2s are important for users as they enable new functionality for BTC holders, such as the use of lending platforms, yield solutions, or decentralized exchanges (DEXs). They serve as an alternative to Ethereum-based solutions for actors who hold a major portion of their bitcoin portfolio.
Q: A comparison of existing Bitcoin L2s and what to expect from this sector this year.
A: Comparing Bitcoin Layer 2 involves evaluating its technical classification. It must be identified whether it is a state channel, rollup or sidechain. Additionally, metrics such as transaction fees, security guarantees, and available decentralized applications, or dApps, on top of a network are crucial. The table below represents the top 2 layers of Bitcoin as of June 2024.
* BounceBit is not a layer 2 but a layer 1 proof-of-stake chain with BTC as the main currency.
**Babylon is a BTC staking platform, implementing a new approach that allows for BTC staking.
Looking to the future, we can undoubtedly expect further expansion and the emergence of new layer 2s of Bitcoin. Due to its scarcity and the fact that there will only be around 21 million bitcoins in existence, it makes sense to expand the programmability and functionalities of digital gold. The next evolution will include reducing transaction costs on the above L2s, adding more compatibility layers, and implementing well-known primitives on Ethereum such as automation dApps or popular wallet support.
Bitcoin has no floor or ceiling in its value and accumulated market capitalization, which today is close to US$1.4 trillion. In its current form, the Bitcoin blockchain serves as a foundational layer upon which innovation can flourish. and today this materializes with layer 2. Looking at the success of Arbitrum, Optimism, Base and zkSync, it can be argued that we will have at least a few thriving ecosystems in this category. Therefore, it is vital to follow its evolution and embrace the use of BTC as one of the fastest growing narratives in 2024.
Consensus Recap: The energy was positive at Consensus 2024 last week in Austin, Texas. Approximately 15,000 people participated, coming from a wide range of industries: service providers, custodians, cryptocurrency exchanges, ETF issuers, RIAs and consultants – all looking to connect. There was a lot of curiosity and engagement.
Q. What were the main themes that emerged?
Through this newsletter, we will continue to focus on these themes and provide more in-depth coverage of these topics as your source of information for consultants in the field.
Note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CoinDesk, Inc. or its owners and affiliates.
Bitcoin
‘This is huge’ — Billionaire Mark Cuban issues ‘incredible’ Bitcoin and crypto prediction amid price slump
Bitcoin has surged again this year under former President Donald Trump Cryptocurrency boosts US presidential election in November with ‘revolutionary’ plan.
The price of bitcoin has surged to more than its all-time high in recent months, surpassing $70,000 per bitcoin and triggering a wave of mega-optimistic predictions about the price of bitcoinalthough it fell again this week to below $65,000 after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady.
Now, as Elon Musk suddenly breaks his silence on bitcoin and cryptocurrenciesBillionaire investor Mark Cuban called a California plan to digitize 42 million car titles using blockchain an “incredible step forward” and “huge” for cryptocurrencies.
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Mark Cuban, famous Shark Tank investor and billionaire owner of the NBA team Dallas Mavericks, has… [+] called a cryptocurrency update “amazing” amid bitcoin’s price slump.
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The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has digitized 42 million car titles using blockchain, it was reported by Reuters, through technology company Oxhead Alpha on the Avalanche blockchain and designed to detect fraud and facilitate the securities transfer process.
“This is an incredible development for crypto,” Cuban, best known as an investor on TV’s Shark Tank and owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team, posted on X, joking that U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler could sue the state as part of his hostility toward cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.
“The reason this is huge for crypto is because people who hold the tokens will have an app with an Avalanche wallet,” Cuban said. “Tens of millions of Californians having and using a crypto wallet in the next five years, or however long it takes, normalizes the use of wallets and crypto.”
John Wu, president of Avalanche developer Ava Labs, told Reuters that California’s DMV is “creating a wallet that you can download on your phone.”
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Bitcoin’s price has rallied this year, triggering a wave of bullish bitcoin price predictions from… [+] people like billionaire Mark Cuban.
Forbes Digital Assets
Last month, Cuban predicted that if the US dollar falls as the global reserve currency, bitcoin could become “a global ‘safe haven’” and a “global currency.” potentially sending the price of bitcoin to a much higher level.
According to Cuban, bitcoin could become what its most ardent supporters “envision” — a means “of protecting our economies… This is already happening in countries facing hyperinflation.”
The price of bitcoin has skyrocketed over the past year, largely due to the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, leading a bitcoin attack on Wall Street.
Bitcoin
Large Bitcoin (BTC) Holders Added $5.4 Billion Worth of BTC in July, Data Shows
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Bitcoin
Peter Schiff criticizes Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin hype by U.Today
U.Today – Renowned economist and cryptocurrency critic Peter Schiff has criticized Michael Saylor’s recent hype about the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies as a strategic treasury asset by corporations.
Michael Saylor, a well-known Bitcoin advocate and president of MicroStrategy, recently shared his enthusiasm on X about the growing adoption of Bitcoin as a strategic treasury asset.
Citing a comment made by Bitcoin investor Bill Miller in a recent interview with CNBC, Saylor tweeted: “We now have more companies coming forward and saying we will put Bitcoin on our balance sheet as a strategic treasury asset.”
However, not everyone shares Saylor’s enthusiasm. Schiff, a vocal Bitcoin critic and gold bull, was quick to respond with his usual skepticism. In a pointed tweet, Schiff argued: “Bitcoin is neither strategic nor appropriate as a treasury asset. Companies should not risk shareholder funds. They should pay dividends and let shareholders risk their own money.”
Bitcoin enthusiasts are not intimidated
However, Schiff’s criticism shouldn’t deter Bitcoin enthusiasts, who often take Schiff’s words with a pinch of salt. To put things in context, Michael Saylor began buying Bitcoin in 2020 as an inflation hedge and alternative to money. Saylor’s company, MicroStrategy, is among the largest public holders of Bitcoin in the world. As of June 20, it held 226,331 BTC, purchased for around $8.33 billion at an average price of $36,798.
Over the weekend, Schiff was surprised when 87% of the more than 11,000 Bitcoin holders who responded to his X survey said they would not sell any of their Bitcoin even if the price dropped more than 99% to $120. They said not only would they not sell, but that they would continue to buy even when prices dropped.
Schiff unexpectedly revealed that “the main selling point for investors to buy Bitcoin is its excellent past performance record.”
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $66,067, having reached all-time highs of nearly $74,000 in mid-March.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin Falls as ETF Flows Reverse, Mt. Gox Moves Billions
In a week of drastic fluctuations, the price of Bitcoin (BTC) has retreated from its highs and is currently trading at US$66,250, down 0.9% in European trading.
This volatility comes on the heels of a significant surge above $70,000 earlier in the week, fueled by former President Donald Trump’s ambitious cryptocurrency plans announced in a Bitcoin Conference in Nashville.
Trump’s announcement to fire Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler and establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve if elected president has temporarily sent the cryptocurrency market into a frenzy.
However, the excitement was short-lived as a series of events unfolded which caused investor sentiment to sour.
A significant sell-off of about 8% was triggered when the US Marshals Service moved $2 billion in Bitcoin for new wallets.
This move has reignited fears of a potential large-scale liquidation, compounded by lingering concerns over a possible Bitcoin liquidation from Mt. Gox. Early this morning, Mt. Gox administrator transferred US$2.2 billion value of your BTC assets in a new wallet.
Meanwhile, the US Bitcoin ETF spot market is showing signs of fluctuation, according to data from SoSo Value. On July 30, Bitcoin spot funds experienced their first net outflow in five days, totaling $18.3 million.
The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) saw outflows of $73.6 million, while the BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) attracted $74.9 million in inflows. But outflows from other funds left the category in the red at the end of Tuesday’s trading session. The total net asset value of spot Bitcoin ETFs currently stands at a substantial $58.5 billion.
In other crypto news, Ripple (XRP) is up 8.6% in the past 24 hours, hitting over 64 cents – its highest point since March 25, according to CoinGecko. data.
This rally comes amid a scheduled token unlock and growing optimism around a potential deal in the long-running SEC vs. Ripple lawsuit.
The crypto community is closely watching the SEC’s actions, particularly its intention to amend its complaint against Binance regarding “Third-Party Cryptocurrency Securities,” which some interpret as a positive sign for Ripple.
On a market analysis noteSingapore-based cryptocurrency trading desk QCP Capital wrote that while election headlines continue to dominate, several crucial macroeconomic events loom on the horizon.
“Election headlines will continue to be a key focus, but several key macroeconomic events are also on the horizon. Key events starting with the FOMC meeting on Wednesday, megacap tech earnings (Apple, Amazon, Meta) throughout the week, and unemployment data on Friday,” QCP Capital wrote.
Edited by Stacy Elliott.
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