Introduction
Bitcoin’s journey of innovation is not just alive but flourishing, thanks to a series of pivotal advancements. The introduction of the Ordinals protocol and the BRC20 token standard has revolutionized the Bitcoin ecosystem, transforming the way we perceive and utilize digital assets.
In June 2023, a groundbreaking moment occurred in the digital world: the birth of the .bitmap protocol. It marked the dawn of the first open-source metaverse protocol on the Bitcoin network. This groundbreaking development allows for the creation of a digital universe where assets are not only secured by Bitcoin’s robust security but also benefit from its renowned decentralization. This concept has quickly sparked a wave of discussions about the metaverse on Bitcoin.
However, two vital components were missing for this vision to fully take shape: a universal standard for metaverse assets (the Asset Standard) and a system to support creators through an open metaverse economy (the Royalty Standard). This is where BRC-420 comes into play, designed specifically to bridge these gaps.
What is BRC420?
BRC420 is an open-source asset management protocol. It enables anyone to craft a wide array of inscriptions, ranging from 2D and 3D designs to game assets, animations, and more, all through the power of recursion. Applications like Bitmap can interpret this asset format, making assets come alive and interact with each other within the Bitmap universe. This is done through innovative techniques involving recursion, licensing, and royalties, which will be explained further below.
Recursion
While the Ordinals protocol allows for inscriptions on individual sats, BRC-420 takes it a step further. It enables the combination of multiple inscriptions into complex, recursive inscriptions. This process involves the ingenious extraction and reuse of data from existing inscriptions to create new ones, effectively weaving together different data blocks into what is known as a ‘recursive inscription.’
The primary goal of developers working with recursive inscriptions is to build an intricate network of interlinked data sources. Furthermore, this method surpasses the traditional 4MB limit on block space, paving the way for more efficient and creative use of blockchain (2D/3D/music).
A key application of recursive inscriptions is to enhance the interoperability of gaming. When game developers integrate the BRC420 protocol, they’re not just adopting a standard; they’re embracing a shared language for digital assets. This unified approach means developers can base their gaming assets on the innovations of others through recursive inscriptions. Such a collaborative environment allows for the creation of assets that are universally recognizable and transferable across different games. Essentially, this paves the way for a truly interoperable Metaverse, where players have the freedom to move their assets seamlessly from one game to another, enriching their gaming experience.
Licensing and Royalties
The recursion method allows creators to recreate/reuse assets using others’ inscriptions. However, this raises questions about royalty fees and usage rights. To address these issues, BRC420 introduces an innovative Royalty Standard, defining ownership and usage rights.
Under the BRC420 protocol, anyone can deploy BRC420, with the deployer entitled to receive royalty fees. When a user inscribes recursive content, they pay a royalty fee as defined in the deploy function to the deployer (shown in the picture above). For instance, deploying an epic spaceship grants the deployer ownership, and they can offer 2100 usage rights at 0.001 sats each. Users minting a spaceship will then pay this fee to use the spaceship on their bitmap land. The implementation of royalty standards is a game-changer, spurring innovation and encouraging creators to develop more masterpieces, which is vital for a vibrant Metaverse.
Now that we’ve unpacked the uniqueness of BRC420, let’s turn our attention to the various projects that have been developed using this protocol standard, exploring the innovative applications it has inspired.
BRC420 Projects:
- Recursive Doodinals: The 1st UGC collection of recursive art. It is created by the same team behind the BRC420 protocol. You could create your own recursive arts using doodles provided by the project or any inscriptions that you like.
- BRC 420 BlueBox: The first asset issued by Bitmap.Tech (@BitmapTech, previously Recursiverse, creator of the BRC420 Protocol), with a total supply of 10,000.
- This Song about NFT: @elonmusk posted this music video on Twitter and claimed that ‘NFTs on ETH are not on-chain’ on Dec 27, 2023. Someone inscribed the video on-chain following @elonmusk’s tweet with a total supply of 42069.
- Mineral: An RWA concept inscription with a supply of 40,000, backed by real-world assets and integrating DeFi mechanisms into the BRC-420 ecosystem. Check out their website to learn more.
These highlighted projects are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many DLCs created for Bitmap using the BRC420 standard. Discover more about the dynamic world of BRC420 at BRC420 Projects.
BRC420 Toolings Starterpack:
- BRC420 essential tools are all listed in Alpha Box, along with other Ordinal/Inscription tools.
- BRC420 Whitepaper: https://rcsv.gitbook.io/brc-420/
You could also find other on-chain data tools (such as Mempool monitor) and other BTC ecosystem toolings at the Alpha Box, you could suggest what else to include by commenting under any of its tweet.
Conclusion
BRC-420 represents a thrilling exploration into the uncharted realms of a Bitcoin-based metaverse, and we’re just scratching the surface. Envision a future where on-chain media such as images, music, and videos become the norm; where gaming platforms and engines adopt these new standards; and where a diverse community of creators, artists, and innovators converge to forge digital wonders. The potential of a Bitcoin metaverse is limitless, offering a vast expanse of possibilities waiting to be discovered. As we stand on the cusp of this new era, it’s exciting to anticipate the evolution of the BRC420 protocol and the revolutionary changes it promises to bring.
That’s it for now :) for more writings like this or questions, follow us on Twitter, to meet more like-minded Chads, and join our community! Catch you again soon Chads!
About Alpha Club
Alpha Club is the yield bearing marketplace of whispers, where people earn while Hearing Secrets That Shape Choices. It strives to become the de facto place for voices to be shared and heard in crypto, building natively on BLAST (& Bitcoin compatible soon).
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