Cryptocurrency market volatility has led analysts to speculate on the next catalyst or trend that will propel Bitcoin (BTC) prices to new heights. Concerns about the future rally have been raised despite the approval of spot Bitcoin ETF transactions by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the completion of BTC halving.
In recent years, developers have made efforts to address Bitcoin’s design flaws. Bitcoin Layer-2 networks, such as the Lightning Network, were introduced to overcome these challenges and enhance Bitcoin’s capabilities for payments and other applications.
However, some of these solutions proved to be inadequate in meeting the demand for smart contracts. Bitcoin Ordinals and the proposal for the implementation of BRC-20, which uses the inscription mechanism to issue tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain, have made significant contributions in this regard.
Despite these innovative efforts, advocates believe there is still room for improvement. Software infrastructure called bridges, which were built to facilitate token movement between networks, have become vulnerable to hacking and have contributed to user reluctance. The decline in Bitcoin’s price from $73,750 in March is suspected to be a result of decreased investor interest in the flagship cryptocurrency. These shortcomings have prompted developers to seek ways to strengthen the BTC network.
One proposed solution is OP_CAT, a software upgrade for the Bitcoin network that aims to enable programmability. Various protocols, including Layer 1 Foundation and Arch, are actively developing solutions to enhance Bitcoin’s programmability. Currently, Bitcoin is trading at $66,759.42, representing a 0.28% decrease in the last 24 hours.
It is important to note that the information provided in this article should not be considered as investment advice. Investors should be aware of the high volatility and risks associated with cryptocurrencies and should conduct their own research.