Bitcoin TLDR

#75

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Summary

Apr 7 - Apr 13, 2025

Our weekly newsletter is focused on keeping you updated on what's new in Bitcoin, and summarizes the bitcoin-dev, lightning-dev and delving bitcoin mailing lists

Ruben Somsen introduces SwiftSync, a novel method that streamlines the Bitcoin blockchain validation process by using hints for unspent transaction outputs and requiring less than 100MB for validation, significantly enhancing efficiency and enabling parallel processing. This approach negates the need for a stateful UTXO set during initial block download, promising a potential 5.28x speed-up in transaction validation (source).

Ethan Heilman discusses the integration of Post-Quantum signatures into Bitcoin, highlighting their larger size and the scalability challenge it presents. He proposes Non-interactive Transaction Compression as a solution, which could drastically reduce transaction sizes and increase Bitcoin's transaction throughput, addressing scalability and economic implications of larger PQ signatures while acknowledging the need for efficient proof construction to avoid mining centralization (source).

Robin Linus elaborates on the use of input-committing covenants for constructing more efficient and secure bridges in the BitVM ecosystem, leveraging CTV and CSFS to eliminate the need for presigning committees and significantly reduce transaction sizes. This advancement simplifies bridge architecture, enhances operational efficiency, and aims towards trust-minimized Bitcoin interoperability, though challenges such as potential censorship in the peg-in process remain (source).

Lastly, zawy proposes a novel security method for cryptocurrency seed words, using mining techniques to allow users to remember fewer seed words. By splitting a nonce into seed words and a highly public random seed, the method balances remembrance with security, making unauthorized access economically prohibitive. This approach leverages computational work as a defensive mechanism, ensuring that an attacker's costs outweigh potential gains (source).

Active Discussions

Reiterating centralized coinjoin (Wasabi & Samourai) deanonymization attacks

17 replies

By Javier Mateos

Involving Yuval Kogman, Peter Todd+3 others

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Original post on December 21, 2024 14:16 UTC

cyclic icon

Last reply on April 9, 2025 02:16 UTC

bitcoin-dev

  • Recent Bitcoin community discussions highlight transparency and trust enhancement suggestions.

  • Calls are made for public verification of residual fund calculations and allocations.

  • Proposals include auditing the revenue model and protocol architecture to ensure integrity.

New Proposal:String Substring Search in Bitcoin Script - OP_ISSUBSTR

10 replies

By Anthony Towns

Involving weichu deng, Erik Aronesty+6 others

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Original post on March 17, 2025 16:14 UTC

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Last reply on April 8, 2025 18:04 UTC

bitcoin-dev

  • Martin Habovštiak discussed improving blockchain programming by using efficient opcodes.

  • He suggested alternatives like SUBSTR or LEFT could make scripting simpler and more efficient.

  • This conversation highlights ongoing optimization efforts in blockchain development tools.

Standard Unstructured Annex

3 replies

By Antoine Riard

Involving Peter Todd

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Original post on March 20, 2025 00:27 UTC

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Last reply on April 9, 2025 22:55 UTC

bitcoin-dev

  • The email proposes a one-byte versioning in payloads for better encoding transitions in applications.

  • It references a GitHub commit to illustrate prior attempts at versioning, linking this to Bitcoin's Taproot upgrade.

  • Technical issues in multi-party witness transactions and Bitcoin protocol enhancements are discussed, citing a pull request.

secp256k1lab: a Python library for prototyping

2 replies

By Jonas Nick

Involving waxwing/ AdamISZ

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Original post on April 1, 2025 08:41 UTC

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Last reply on April 7, 2025 19:16 UTC

bitcoin-dev

  • The maintainers are interested in MuSig2 and adaptor signatures but won't integrate them soon.

  • BIP 340 was integrated due to its use in ChillDKG, implying future additions could be based on demand.

  • MuSig2, with its Python reference and test vectors, is seen as a favorable addition to the library.

CTV+CSFS: Can we reach consensus on a first step towards covenants?

55 replies

By instagibbs

Involving jamesob, stevenroose+10 others

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Original post on March 10, 2025 22:58 UTC

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Last reply on April 12, 2025 02:51 UTC

delvingbitcoin

  • Recent Bitcoin code updates streamline CheckTemplateVerify (CTV) integration, enhancing efficiency.

  • Adjustments maintain BIP119's integrity, ensuring backward compatibility and cost-effective CTV use.

  • An alternative soft fork approach was considered but deemed too complex, focusing on seamless CTV implementation.

Stats on compact block reconstructions

25 replies

By andrewtoth

Involving 0xB10C, ajtowns+6 others

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Original post on August 2, 2024 12:08 UTC

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Last reply on April 8, 2025 16:43 UTC

delvingbitcoin

  • The "extra pool" in blockchain handles 100 transactions, separate from the main mempool.

  • It aids in managing transactions superseded by the Replace-By-Fee (RBF) protocol.

  • Effectiveness varies with network peers, suggesting optimization could improve its operation.

IBD Booster -- Speeding up IBD with pre-generated hints (PoC)

9 replies

By instagibbs

Involving RubenSomsen, theStack+4 others

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Original post on April 2, 2025 17:26 UTC

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Last reply on April 8, 2025 18:56 UTC

delvingbitcoin

  • Salts in hash functions boost security by making outputs unique and thwarting hash collision attacks.

  • Effective salt use requires maintaining their uniqueness and secrecy to prevent mass breach scenarios.

  • The security of salts depends on their confidentiality, necessitating stringent protection measures.

OP_CHECKCO - NTRACTVERIFYand its amount semantic

8 replies

By AntoineP

Involving salvatoshi, Chris_Stewart_5+1 other

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Original post on March 17, 2025 12:29 UTC

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Last reply on April 14, 2025 15:06 UTC

delvingbitcoin

  • The email critiques a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal, highlighting potential spillover effects.

  • It suggests adding a new field in transaction inputs to manage constraints, enhancing script functionality.

  • A proof of concept is shared on Bitcoin Core v29.0 repository, demonstrating the proposal's applicability.

Bitcoin node P2P traffic analysis

4 replies

By andrewtoth

Involving gmaxwell, jsarenik+2 others

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Original post on March 3, 2025 14:06 UTC

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Last reply on April 8, 2025 13:45 UTC

delvingbitcoin

  • Spy nodes in P2P networks show little activity, only completing handshakes and responding to pings.

  • They exhibit low traffic volumes, suggesting minimal participation in data exchanges.

  • A GitHub proposal suggests a strategy to discourage spy nodes by promoting active engagement.

Bitcoin Inquisition 27.0

2 replies

By ajtowns

Involving GaloisField2718

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Original post on May 18, 2024 07:24 UTC

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Last reply on April 7, 2025 17:05 UTC

delvingbitcoin

  • A new cryptocurrency development resource is now available on the GitHub wiki.

  • Initial release and project goals are detailed in the mailing list archives.

  • Foundational motivations and objectives are discussed in the original idea document.

How CTV+CSFS improves BitVM bridges

2 replies

By ekrembal

Involving Cyimon, RobinLinus

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Original post on April 10, 2025 14:28 UTC

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Last reply on April 16, 2025 20:02 UTC

delvingbitcoin

  • The transaction graph aims to optimize collateral use by system operators.

  • It allows processing multiple withdrawals at once, but disputes halt all reimbursements.

  • Challenges include needing a Bitcoin light client for verification and signature publication issues.

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