Benchmarking Bitcoin Script Evaluation for the Varops Budget (Great Script Restoration)

The exploration of new opcodes in programming, particularly within the context of Bitcoin's scripting language, reveals significant advancements and potential for efficiency and power in cryptographic applications. One notable implementation is the OP_CAT based zkp verifier, which represents a pioneering step in the application of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) on the Bitcoin blockchain. This method is not only innovative but also showcases an extremely lightweight operation, utilizing around 3 million operations predominantly composed of less computationally intensive instructions such as OP_ADD, OP_DUP, OP_PICK, and OP_SWAP. The usage of OP_SHA256, one of the more computationally demanding operations, is remarkably minimal, accounting for only 0.4% of all operations.

The efficiency of this approach is further illustrated by its minimal impact on block space and computational resources. Despite incorporating 72 transactions, the system utilizes only about 88% of the block space, with the scripts executing in approximately 10 milliseconds on standard hardware. This level of efficiency underscores the potential of leveraging OP_CAT for ZKP verification without significantly burdening the network’s computational capacity. Moreover, the analysis suggests that while OP_CAT plays a crucial role in the current implementation, there is room for exploring other opcodes like OP_MUL for potentially more compute-intensive but efficient solutions. However, such alternatives have yet to be extensively benchmarked or adopted.

In conclusion, the discussion highlights a critical examination of how advanced logic enabled by new opcodes, specifically through the use of OP_CAT in ZKP verifiers, could revolutionize blockchain computations. It demonstrates that the current implementation is highly efficient, using a majority of lightweight operations and occupying minimal block space, thereby offering a glimpse into the future possibilities of blockchain technology enhancements. Yet, it also opens the door for further exploration into other opcodes and implementations that might offer greater efficiency or computational capabilities, indicating a vibrant area of ongoing research and development in the field.