The latest version of libsecp256k1, version 0.7.1, has been released, featuring enhancements in security, a new testing framework, and build system updates aimed at improving the development process and security for its users. A comprehensive changelog detailing the updates is available for developers and users to fully grasp the scope of the improvements. The release was announced to the Bitcoin Development Mailing List, with further details and download options accessible on the official GitHub release page here.
A recent initiative aims at advancing Bitcoin's authorization policies by introducing a novel encoding mechanism for complex boolean logic in transaction validation, addressing the limitations of traditional methods like threshold/multisignatures and scripts. This development enables nuanced control over who can spend bitcoins without compromising privacy or efficiency by compiling a monotone boolean policy into a single signature verification key, thus keeping the policy complexity off-chain. The approach utilizes cryptographic primitives such as MuSig2, Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH), and Non-Interactive Zero-Knowledge proofs to ensure privacy and security while maintaining expressiveness in digital currency transactions. For more information, including a detailed academic paper and an explainer blog post, visit https://eprint.iacr.org/2026/088.pdf and https://hackmd.io/@olkurbatov/HJm5h0JH-l, with the framework's codebase available for community feedback at https://github.com/zero-art-rs/blisk.
