By Peter Bergman (MoneyAmped.com)
The BRC-20 token standard is a first-of-its-kind program that makes creating and sending transferable tokens on the Bitcoin network using the Ordinals system easy.
BRC-20 tokens are similar to Ethereum’s ERC-20 tokens, but they have their processes and functions. Even though BRC-20 tokens have become more common in the first few months of 2023, it is essential to remember that they are still being tested. Because of this, people are told to be very careful when working with them.
How Did BRC-20 Tokens Get Made?
Since the start of the Bitcoin Ordinals protocol in January 2023, which made it easier to write non-fungible tokens (NFTs) onto satoshis (sats), people have become more interested in the idea of making fungible tokens on the Bitcoin network. Domo, a hacker with a fake name, came up with the BRC-20 token standards in March 2023 so that fungible tokens could be made on the Bitcoin network.
The first time BRC-20 tokens were used, they were called “order.” The Bitcoin wallet environment quickly put in place tools to make it easier to integrate BRC-20 tokens. After the original start, many BRC-20 tickets, including some based on memes, were released over the next few months.
As of May 2023, the prices of some BRC-20 tokens have skyrocketed, ad their market capitalizations are very high. Because there is more demand for BRC-20 coins, Bitcoin transaction fees have gone up a lot, which has caused a lot of network bottlenecks.
How to Do the BRC-20 Tokens Work?
To understand how complicated BRC-20 tokens are, humans must deeply understand Bitcoin Ordinals. The Ordinals protocol is a new system that lets satoshis be numbered, and extra information be attached to satoshis through a process called “inscription.”
BRC-20 tokens use Ordinals markings of JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) data to set up token contracts, mint tokens, and move tokens. Currently, the BRC-20 token standard makes it possible to deploy a BRC-20 token, mint a certain number of BRC-20 tokens, and carry a certain number of BRC-20 tokens using the deploy, mint, and transfer functions, respectively.
The new BRC-20 token standard makes it hard to launch, mint, and move tokens, which may be challenging for the average person to understand. Also, only so many tools and help systems can be used.
What Makes BRC-20 Tokens Distinct from ERC-20 Tokens
Even though they look similar, the two security tokens are different in meaningful ways.
On the Bitcoin blockchain, there are BRC-20 coins, but ERC-20 is the norm on the Ethereum blockchain. Smart contracts can’t be used with BRC-20 tokens, so they have a much smaller possibility. On the other hand, ERC-20 tokens can work with many different systems and apps. This means they can be used for various services, such as lending and borrowing.
The ERC-20 standard has reached full maturity, and many tokens have been made and are widely used. First suggested in 2015 and then made official in 2017, ERC-20 tokens have been put through many tests and shown to work well. There is a lot of doubt about what will happen with BRC-20 tokens in the future.
Threats Posed by BRC-20 Tokens
Currently, the BRC-20 token standard is an experiment by coders who want to make it possible to use the same tokens on the Bitcoin system. Given how testing is going right now, there are a lot of potential failure places to consider.
Even though BRC-20 tokens have gotten a lot of press, they could be more useful now. The outlook for the future could be better. Given how easy it is to make BRC-20 tokens, many won’t be worth anything in the long run. Before using or investing in this new type of token, users and buyers must be careful and do their research thoroughly.
