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Revisiting BIP21

Revisiting BIP21

Original Postby MattCorallo

Posted on: March 1, 2024 14:47 UTC

The discussion centers on the proposed modifications to BIP21, suggesting a significant simplification of its structure.

The recommendation is to revise BIP21 in a way that parameters are allowed but bodies are excluded. This approach emphasizes the necessity of specifying the type of address directly as a key within the parameters. For example, for a taproot address, keys such as 'ta' or 'tp' should be used, and for silent payments, the key might be 'sp', while BOLT12 addresses would use 'b12'. This method of identification is not only concise but serves a practical purpose by enabling wallets to efficiently determine the appropriate action based on the type of address they encounter. It also aids in the recognition of the address type being dealt with.

Additionally, this proposal has implications for addressing future innovations where an address type may choose not to identify itself with a bech32 human-readable part (HRP) to minimize the size of QR codes. This provision suggests a forward-thinking approach, ensuring that the system remains adaptable and inclusive of potential new address types that prioritize compactness, without sacrificing the ability to be identified and processed by wallets.

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