Key Points
- Fractal Bitcoin, a new Bitcoin scaling solution, has officially launched its mainnet.
- The Fractal network offers block confirmation times under 30 seconds and supports a wide range of Bitcoin protocols.
Fractal Bitcoin, a fresh scaling solution for Bitcoin, has successfully launched its mainnet.
This project, supported by wallet provider UniSat, seeks to improve Bitcoin’s transaction capabilities by working directly on the Bitcoin Core codebase.
The launch comes after several tests that started on a dedicated testnet in July 2024.
In an interesting twist, the genesis block of Fractal carries the same message found in Bitcoin’s first block: “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks.”
Direct Bitcoin Infrastructure Operation
By operating directly within Bitcoin’s infrastructure, Fractal aims to stand out from other scaling solutions that often depend on Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility.
Fractal assets can be managed through UniSat Wallet and OKX Wallet, both of which support the mainnet.
These wallets enable users to retain control over their digital assets, with transaction details verifiable through Mempool Explorer, UniSat Explorer, and OKLink.
Fractal has also collaborated with UniSat and OKX to launch the Fractal Mainnet Bootstrap Program, which rewards active Bitcoin users.
Fractal Bitcoin’s Bitcoin-native approach is supported by the integration of the OP_CAT opcode, which seeks to enhance Bitcoin’s functionality without relying on external protocols.
Fractal Features
The network claims to offer block confirmation times of less than 30 seconds, significantly faster than Bitcoin’s base layer.
Fractal features a recursive layering structure, which reportedly supports a 20-fold increase in capacity per layer.
The network natively supports Bitcoin protocols like BRC-20, Ordinals, and Runes, aiming to cater to a wide range of applications from decentralized finance (DeFi) to non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Fractal introduces a new mining structure called “Cadence Mining”, which combines permissionless mining with merged mining with Bitcoin.
This model aims to enhance the overall security of the network.
Key contributors to the project include UniSat Wallet and blockchain development firm Block Space Force.
Alongside the mainnet debut, Fractal also launched its native token FB with a total supply of 210 million tokens.
Over 100 projects are reportedly preparing to launch on Fractal, with the ecosystem aiming to grow rapidly across various sectors, including DeFi, NFTs, and gaming.
Fractal Bitcoin also plans to launch a voting platform using OP_CAT, allowing FB holders to participate in governance decisions.
The scaling solution provider has opened applications for Season 1 Grants, running from September 9 to October 9, 2024.
Projects can apply for these grants, with selections made on a rolling basis.
