@ Cryptape

*🍨 Your weekly byte of the latest updates from the Bitcoin ecosystem! * ## Crypto Insights ### Exploring the Orphan Block Overflow Issue in the Bitcoin Network Developer 0xB10C [analyzes](https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/stats-on-orphanage-overflows/1421/) the phenomenon of orphan blocks in the Bitcoin network, particularly the "Orphanage Overflow" issue—whether the orphan block generation rate is abnormal or exceeds expectations. Key points include: **Orphan Block Statistics** * Over the past 10 years, Bitcoin's orphan block rate has remained low, with occasional short-term spikes. * Between February 10 and February 12, 2024, the number of orphan blocks significantly increased to five, exceeding normal levels. **Possible Causes** * **Block Propagation Delays**: If miners fail to receive the latest block promptly, competition may lead to orphan blocks. * **Mining Pool Hashrate Competition**: Some mining pools may experience hashrate fluctuations in a short period, resulting in more orphan blocks. * **Network Layer Anomalies**: If there are issues in Bitcoin's network layer, block propagation efficiency may be affected, increasing the orphan block rate. The conclusion suggests that this orphan block overflow event has not severely impacted the normal operation of the Bitcoin network. However, a persistently high orphan block rate may indicate that network propagation or mining pool strategies need optimization. ### New BIP Proposal: Mandatory Quantum-Resistant Address Migration Protocol (QRAMP) Agustin Cruz has proposed the [Quantum-Resistant Address Migration Protocol](https://groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev/c/8PM6iZCeDMc) (QRAMP) as a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP). The goal is to enforce a mandatory migration period for Bitcoin users from traditional ECDSA addresses to quantum-resistant addresses to mitigate the risk of future quantum attacks. The proposal outlines: * **Reducing Vulnerabilities:** Transitioning funds to quantum-resistant schemes preemptively to eliminate the risk posed by quantum attacks on exposed public keys. * **Enforcing Timelines:** A hard migration deadline that forces timely action, rather than relying on a gradual, voluntary migration that might leave many users at risk. * **Balancing Risks:** Weighing the non-trivial risk of funds being permanently locked against the potential catastrophic impact of a quantum attack on Bitcoin’s security. ### How the Decentralized Bitcoin Price Estimator UTXOracle Works The decentralized Bitcoin price estimator UTXOracle operates on the same machine as a Bitcoin node, connecting only to the user's node without external sources. Its price estimation accuracy can match exchange prices. The chart below illustrates UTXOracle's BTC-USD price estimates from 2021 to 2025 compared to Yahoo Finance.  Watch these videos to learn more about UTXOracle: * [Conceptual Understanding of UTXOracle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciJo7DH41FI) * [UTXOracle Under the Hood](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tMmAQ5qxfY) ### Bitcoin Payments Report: Bitcoin Shifting from Store of Value to Medium of Exchange A report by Breez and 1A1z, [*Bitcoin Payments: From Digital Gold to Everyday Currency*](https://breez.technology/report/), shows that the Lightning Network now covers 650 million users. Unlike traditional payment networks, Bitcoin payment growth has been largely organic, with exchanges like OKX and Coinbase integrating Lightning based on real demand. The report argues that Bitcoin is evolving from a store of value to a medium of exchange, laying the foundation for an internet-native economy. ### Bitcoin CoreDev Report: 2024-2025 Development Data Adam Jonas has compiled a [report](https://adamjonas.com/bitcoin/coredev/retro/coredev-2024-retro/) on Bitcoin CoreDev activity in 2024-2025, including: **2024 PR Submissions and Merges** * 1,622 PRs submitted in 2024 (compared to 1,553 in 2023), with 1,125 merged (compared to 1,093 in 2023). * 170 first-time contributors (up from 159 in 2023), with a total of 256 contributors. **2024 Key Technical Upgrades** * CMake migration advances, Security disclosures, Package relay progress, Cluster mempool development, Multiprocess development, BIP324 enabled by default, Silent Payments implementation **2024 Disappointments** * Lack of reviewers, Testing infrastructure challenges, Process/workflow issues, Build system complexity **2025 Priorities** * Cluster mempool completion and deployment , Enhanced wallet functionality, Testing infrastructure improvements ### Foundry and Rootstock Merge Mining: Impact on Bitcoin's Ecosystem Foundry, the world's largest Bitcoin mining pool, has [announced](https://x.com/rootstock_io/status/1887503042175447066) support for merge mining Rootstock (RSK). Foundry will contribute 200 exahashes per second, bringing Rootstock's total hashrate to 740 EH/s, accounting for 71.7% of Bitcoin's network hashrate. This merge mining initiative has several implications: * **Enhancing Bitcoin’s Functionality**: Rootstock supports smart contracts and is EVM-compatible, enabling altcoin chains to migrate to Rootstock while benefiting from Bitcoin’s security and liquidity. * **Sustainable Mining Revenue**: As Bitcoin block rewards decrease due to halvings, merge mining provides miners with a long-term profitability path while reinforcing Bitcoin network security. Find more details [here](https://thebitcoinmanual.com/articles/foundry-merge-mining-rootstock/). ### Podcast | Crash Course on Bitcoin’s Political Economy: *End the Fed: Hoard Bitcoins* The [Reorg](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/podcasts/the-reorg/) Podcast is newly launched by [Satoshi Nakamoto Institute (SNI)](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/) that explores Bitcoin-related archives, explaining historical context and analyzing their contemporary relevance. The [first episode](https://youtu.be/3QTia-cVglw?si=E7SvYOJNNfCA38_f) focuses on the political economy article [*End the Fed: Hoard Bitcoins*](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/mempool/end-the-fed-hoard-bitcoins/), which argues why Bitcoin will surpass fiat currencies and precious metals to become the world's reserve currency. This episode is also the first in SNI's *Mempool Crash Course in Bitcoin Political Economy*. Course outline is available [here](https://nakamotoinstitute.org/crash-course/). ### How MuSig2 Powers Lightning Liquidity via Loop [This article](https://lightning.engineering/posts/2025-02-13-loop-musig2/) explains how MuSig2, a protocol for aggregating public keys for the Schnorr digital signature algorithm, enhances Lightning Loop—a non-custodial submarine swap service between on-chain bitcoin and the Lightning Network. Submarine swaps enable users to swap on-chain Bitcoin for off-chain Lightning Network Bitcoin (and vice versa) using HTLCs (Hashed Time-Locked Contracts) to ensure atomicity and eliminate counterparty risk. ### Progress and Architecture of Dual-Funded Channels in Lightning Development Kit Dual-funded channels allow both parties to contribute funds, improving capital flexibility compared to traditional single-funded channels. While dual-funded channels have been implemented in Eclair and Core Lightning, they are still being integrated into the Lightning Development Kit (LDK). [This article](https://blog.btrust.tech/a-look-at-ldks-dual-funded-channels-implementation-2/) explores LDK's dual-funding architecture, the challenges involved (e.g., lack of interactive RBF support), and ongoing development. ### Evolution of Nervape: Blending the Virtual and the Physical [The article](https://medium.com/@ines_27821/%E8%99%9A%E5%AE%9E%E5%85%B1%E7%94%9F%E7%9A%84-nervape-%E6%BD%AE%E7%8E%A9%E6%BC%94%E5%8C%96%E8%AE%BA-a5146e7bef71) highlights the key features of Nervape, a digital object project in the [Nervos Network](https://nervos.org/): * **Building Cross-Chain Digital LEGO**: Enables users to seamlessly move and combine digital assets across different chains like BTC and CKB. * **Expanding the Imagination of NFTs**: NFTs are more than just art or collectibles—they serve as tools for creative expression and identity construction. * **Merging Designer Toys with Digital Innovation**: Extends users' creative possibilities into the physical world. ## Top Reads on Blockchain and Beyond ### Bitcoin Fork Guide: Consensus Before Consensus This [guide](https://ajtowns.github.io/bfg/) promotes the idea of **consensus before consensus**, emphasizing the need to build broad social consensus before implementing consensus rule changes in code. The process consists of four key phases:  Once social consensus is established across these phases, deploying a consensus rule change becomes a natural next step. ### Political Memecoins: Reshaping Public Opinion and Election Dynamics Arthur Hayes humorously refers to political memecoins as [Zero Knowledge Proof](https://cryptohayes.medium.com/zero-knowledge-proof-75956024e4af). Compared to traditional polling and campaign financing methods, political memecoins offer several advantages: * **A More Accurate Measure of Public Sentiment**: Market trading of political memecoins reflects real voter sentiment, making them more reliable than traditional polls, which can be affected by social pressure and survey bias. * **Globally Accessible**: Anyone can easily purchase political memecoins, eliminating the need for financial expertise or large donations—creating a new, direct way to express political support. * **Influence on Election Momentum**: Fluctuations in memecoin prices can boost voter confidence, functioning similarly to decentralized prediction markets (e.g., Polymarket) that reveal real-time electoral trends. * **A Tool for Campaigning and Fundraising**: Politicians can tie memecoin performance to voter support, reducing reliance on traditional campaign financing while amplifying reach via social media. ### How Secure Enclaves Enable Confidential Computing for Developers OpenSecret has shared a [technical introduction](https://blog.opensecret.cloud/opensecret-technicals/) detailing how it leverages secure enclaves to build a confidential computing platform for developers. By integrating end-to-end encryption with AWS Nitro enclaves and reproducible builds, OpenSecret ensures that user data remains protected even during execution, while also verifying that the code processing the data remains untampered.