Bitcoin SV: Everything to Know

By  Beluga Research August 3, 2023

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Summary

  • Bitcoin SV (BSV) is in essence, a fork of a fork – it forked from Bitcoin Cash in 2018, which had forked from Bitcoin (BTC) in 2017
  • The "SV" in Bitcoin SV stands for "Satoshi Vision," as its proponents claim to follow the original vision of Bitcoin's creator, Satoshi Nakamoto
  • Craig Wright and Calvin Ayre led the fork of BCH and created BSV with the goal of building a more technologically advanced, scalable version of the original Bitcoin protocol that would increase the block size limit to 128MB and offer low-cost, fast transactions on the Bitcoin network
  • Bitcoin SV has faced controversies and disagreements within its community regarding its development direction, leading to a series of splits and forks

Overview

With decentralization, security and scalability at its core, Bitcoin SV uses a proof-of-work consensus mechanism to ensure the security and immutability of the network. Proof-of-work means miners compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate transactions and add them to the blockchain.

What sets Bitcoin SV apart from other cryptocurrencies is its commitment to maintaining a stable protocol. Rather than frequently introducing significant changes and updates, Bitcoin SV aims to keep its protocol stable to provide a reliable and predictable environment for businesses and developers. This stability enables long-term planning and encourages the adoption of Bitcoin SV in various industries.

A Brief History

To understand the creation of Bitcoin SV, it's important to trace back to the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) hard fork that occurred in 2017. The fork occurred due to disagreements among developers around the block size limitations posed by the Bitcoin protocol, as supporters of Bitcoin Cash believed in increasing the block size to improve scalability, as larger block sizes allow for more transactions to be processed more quickly. Following the 2017 fork, additional arguments arose surrounding the future direction of Bitcoin Cash, as Bitcoin SV supporters believed that increasing the block size was the only change that should occur and that adding any other features was too much of a deviation from the original Bitcoin protocol. Unable to resolve these arguments, Craig Wright and Calivin Ayre led another hard fork in November 2018 that resulted in the creation of Bitcoin SV.

Bitcoin SV: Everything to Know

  • Bitcoin SV stands for "Satoshi Vision. " This reflects its goal of adhering to the original vision of Bitcoin's creator. It aims to provide a stable and scalable blockchain platform for various use cases, including smart contracts, tokenization and data storage.
  • Scaling. Bitcoin SV has implemented several technical improvements to enhance scalability. It has significantly increased the default block size limit, allowing for more transactions to be included in each block. This larger block size enables higher transaction throughput and helps mitigate congestion during periods of increased network activity.
  • Scripting Language. Bitcoin SV supports the use of smart contracts through its scripting language, enabling developers to create programmable applications on the blockchain. By leveraging smart contracts, developers can automate the execution of predefined actions based on certain conditions, opening up a wide range of possibilities for decentralized applications.
  • Tokenization. Another notable feature of Bitcoin SV is its support for tokenization. Tokenization refers to the process of creating digital assets or tokens on a blockchain. With Bitcoin SV, businesses and individuals can tokenize various assets, such as real estate, commodities or even digital collectibles. These tokens can be traded, transferred and stored on the Bitcoin SV blockchain, providing a secure and transparent way to represent ownership of assets.
  • Data Storage. Bitcoin SV also offers robust data storage capabilities. Its larger block size limit allows for the inclusion of more data within each block. This feature makes it possible to store and retrieve large amounts of data directly on the blockchain. This opens up opportunities for applications that require immutable and decentralized data storage, such as document verification, timestamping and supply chain management.
  • Interoperability. Bitcoin SV aims to foster interoperability with other blockchain networks and traditional systems. It supports protocols such as OP_RETURN, which allows for embedding arbitrary data on the blockchain, enabling interaction with external systems and facilitating cross-chain communication. This interoperability can lead to increased collaboration and integration between different blockchain platforms, promoting the development of a more interconnected and efficient ecosystem.

Getting Started

To get started with Bitcoin SV, a digital wallet is needed to store BSV tokens. There are various wallet options available, including desktop wallets, mobile wallets and web-based wallets. It is important to choose a reputable wallet provider that offers robust security features to protect user funds.

Once an investor has chosen a wallet provider, they can acquire BSV tokens through cryptocurrency exchanges that support Bitcoin SV. These exchanges allow crypto investors to buy BSV using other cryptocurrencies or fiat currencies. However, as with any type of investmen it's important that investors conduct thorough research and choose a reliable exchange with a good track record.

After acquiring BSV tokens, investors can store them in a wallet and use them for various purposes. Bitcoin SV can be used for online purchases, peer-to-peer transactions or even as an investment asset. Its utility extends to different industries and applications, thanks to its unique features and capabilities.

Unique Aspects

  • Scalability. One of the primary goals of Bitcoin SV is to provide a highly scalable blockchain platform. It achieves this by significantly increasing the block size limit, allowing for more transactions to be processed in each block. This scalability enhancement enables higher throughput and reduces transaction congestion, making it suitable for applications that require fast and efficient transaction processing.
  • Stability. Bitcoin SV aims to provide stability in its protocol and avoid frequent protocol changes. This stability is intended to create a reliable platform for businesses and developers to build upon, without the risk of constant updates disrupting operations. By maintaining a stable protocol, Bitcoin SV seeks to foster long-term growth and adoption.
  • Data Storage. Bitcoin SV enables the storage of large amounts of data directly on its blockchain. This feature opens up possibilities for applications that require immutable and decentralized data storage, such as timestamping, notarization, and supply chain management. By leveraging the blockchain as a secure and transparent data storage solution, Bitcoin SV expands the potential use cases beyond simple financial transactions.
  • Micropayments. Bitcoin SV facilitates micropayments, allowing for the transfer of small-value amounts with minimal transaction fees. This feature is particularly useful for content creators, as it enables new monetization models where consumers can pay small amounts for access to digital content or services. Micropayments can also be leveraged in machine-to-machine transactions and the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem.
  • Smart Contracts. Bitcoin SV incorporates a scripting language that enables the execution of smart contracts on its blockchain. Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with predefined conditions and agreements written into code. They can automate and enforce the terms of an agreement, eliminating the need for intermediaries. Bitcoin SV's smart contract capabilities open up opportunities for decentralized applications (Dapps) and programmable money.

Advantages

  • Scalability. Bitcoin SV increases the block size limit to 128MB, allowing for a significantly higher number of transactions to be included in each block. This helps to address the scalability challenge faced by other cryptocurrencies and enables Bitcoin SV to handle a larger volume of transactions per second.
  • Enhanced transaction capacity. The larger block size in Bitcoin SV allows for more transactions to be processed within a single block, leading to faster confirmation times and lower transaction fees. This makes Bitcoin SV more efficient for everyday transactions and reduces the cost barrier for users.
  • Stability and security. Bitcoin SV maintains a stable protocol, focusing on long-term stability and security. By adhering closely to the original Bitcoin protocol, Bitcoin SV aims to provide a reliable and secure platform for users and businesses to transact and build applications upon.
  • Support for smart contracts. Bitcoin SV incorporates the ability to create and execute smart contracts on its blockchain. This enables developers to build decentralized applications (Dapps) and implement programmable logic directly on the Bitcoin SV network. Smart contracts can automate various processes and eliminate the need for intermediaries, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
  • Transparent and auditable. Similar to other cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin SV operates on a decentralized blockchain, providing transparency and immutability. All transactions and data recorded on the blockchain are publicly accessible, allowing for easy auditing and verification. This transparency can foster trust among users and businesses, as it provides a clear record of transactions and ensures accountability.

Disadvantages

  • Limited adoption. While Bitcoin SV aims to provide a scalable and robust platform, it has faced challenges in terms of adoption and acceptance. Many businesses and individuals still primarily utilize bitcoin (BTC) as the dominant cryptocurrency, which may limit the use cases and acceptance of Bitcoin SV in comparison.
  • Potential centralization concerns. With the larger block size, there is a possibility that only a few miners or mining pools with significant resources can handle the computational requirements. This concentration of mining power could potentially lead to centralization concerns, as it may reduce decentralization of the network.
  • Regulatory challenges. Like other cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin SV operates in a regulatory environment that is still evolving. The regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrencies can vary significantly across different jurisdictions, which may pose challenges for businesses and individuals looking to leverage Bitcoin SV for their operations. Uncertainty in regulatory frameworks can impact adoption and limit the growth potential of Bitcoin SV.
  • Limited developer ecosystem. Compared to more established cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether, the developer ecosystem around Bitcoin SV is relatively small. This can result in fewer readily available tools, libraries and resources for developers looking to build applications on the Bitcoin SV blockchain. A limited developer ecosystem may slow down the pace of innovation and hinder the growth of the platform.