op_ctv still has no technical objections

Nov 27 - Nov 29, 2025

  • The ongoing dialogue within the Bitcoin development community underscores a cautious yet forward-thinking approach to introducing new features, such as opcodes, into the network.

A specific focus has been placed on the opcode known as OP_CTV (OP_CheckTemplateVerify). This particular opcode is praised for its simplicity and non-recursive nature, which prevents its use in complex or potentially harmful operations. This restraint is seen as beneficial for its initial introduction, aiming to mitigate any complications that could arise from implementing a more complex system. The comparison between OP_CTV and the more elaborate proposal known as LNHANCE, which involves three separate opcodes, has been a point of contention. The complexity and broad attack surface associated with LNHANCE highlight the challenges in optimizing covenants for every conceivable scenario without overwhelming the network or introducing vulnerabilities.

Discussions around these technical proposals reveal a preference among developers for solutions that are not only functional but also accessible and easy to comprehend. This perspective is vital for ensuring broader understanding and acceptance, especially among those less involved in the technical nuances of Bitcoin's programming language. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation with user-friendly principles, suggesting that the future of Bitcoin development may favor approaches that maintain this equilibrium.

Furthermore, recent communications have proposed organizing a meeting to discuss activation parameters for new features and the creation of an activation client. This initiative indicates a commitment to collaborative problem-solving and efficient advancement through open dialogue and consensus-building among key stakeholders, including developers, miners, and economic nodes. It reflects an understanding that smooth implementation requires widespread adoption by these groups without political or dramatic hurdles.

In addition, there was a general agreement on proposing a conservative activation mechanism using BIP 9, with a long activation window and high miner threshold. This approach highlights a methodical and prudent strategy towards updating the network while considering whether a new BIP is necessary or if updating BIP119 with new activation parameters would suffice.

Lastly, the exploration of various opcode combinations over an extended period led to the identification of threshold rules that serve as an evaluation framework. These rules encompass fine-grained introspection, state-carrying covenants, bigint operations, and new arithmetic capabilities through lookup tables. These considerations are essential for developing script-interactable exogenous asset protocols and novel bridge constructions that could potentially impact mining decentralization. The encouragement for further exploration and caution against proposals that violate these established criteria demonstrates a deep commitment to safeguarding the network's integrity and decentralization while fostering innovation.

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Thread Summary (2 replies)

Nov 27 - Nov 29, 2025

Message History

3 messages

ll has no technical objections Erik AronestyOriginal Post
Nov 27, 2025/07:43 UTC
conduition'
Nov 28, 2025/02:04 UTC
/dev /fd
Nov 29, 2025/23:08 UTC
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