• While many have traditionally viewed Bitcoin mainnet as a medium of exchange, the future may see its primary function shift towards providing security for Proof of Stake (PoS) chains by time-stamping transactions and proofs
• As Bitcoin continues to gain adoption, it becomes increasingly evident that scalability issues will persist
• The mainnet may not be the ideal medium for everyday transactions due to potentially high fees

In the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrencies, the future of Bitcoin mainnet is taking on a unique and critical role. While many have traditionally viewed it as a medium of exchange, the future may see its primary function shift towards providing security for Proof of Stake (PoS) chains by time-stamping transactions and proofs. This article delves into the reasons behind this transformation and its potential implications.

Bitcoin’s looming scalability challenges

As Bitcoin continues to gain adoption, it becomes increasingly evident that scalability issues will persist. While this issue has spurred the development of various Bitcoin sidechains, it’s crucial to emphasize that the mainnet may not be the ideal medium for everyday transactions due to potentially high fees. Instead, the role of facilitating medium-of-exchange transactions for Bitcoin could migrate to external blockchains and sidechains. Chains like Lightning, Ethereum (with its Rollups), RSK, Stacks, Nomic, Avalanche, and others with Bitcoin bridging capabilities could cater to this demand.

In a future where BTC transactions predominantly occur off the mainnet, it becomes imperative to identify a dominant use case for Bitcoin’s mainnet to maintain its relevance.

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The need for mainnet transactions

In this envisioned future, Bitcoin mainnet must continue processing transactions to sustain miner rewards and uphold BTC as a fee token on the mainnet. Some transactions from sidechains could contribute to this transaction volume. Still, another avenue arises: Bitcoin timestamping for PoS chains.

Securing proof of stake chains

One of the most significant trade-offs in the PoS vs. PoW debate is PoS’s susceptibility to censorship by malicious entities with a sufficient stake. Such an event could lead to a chain reorganization, eroding trust in the network—a dire situation, especially for low-market-cap chains.

PoW, on the other hand, does not face the same trade-off. To initiate a reorganization in a PoW chain, an entity would need to acquire 51% of the hashing power—a prohibitively expensive endeavor in equipment and energy consumption.

However, PoW chains generally have longer confirmation times, challenging high transaction throughput and decentralization. This is where PoS can potentially benefit from Bitcoin’s PoW finality, and Bitcoin can leverage PoS chains’ ability to achieve higher transaction per second (TPS) rates and faster finality.

Mutual benefits of bitcoin timestamps

Imagine if every PoS transaction were timestamped on the Bitcoin mainnet. This simple act could transform the PoS landscape. It would render malicious reorganizations nearly impossible, as the original structure would already exist as proof on the Bitcoin blockchain. This feature would significantly enhance the security of PoS chains by harnessing Bitcoin mainnet’s immutable nature.

Furthermore, this innovation could reduce unbonding times for staked assets. Sovereign blockchains and Rollups of various forms could utilize Bitcoin mainnet as the ultimate source of truth for transaction accuracy. These chains would also pay Bitcoin mainnet for this timestamping service, potentially driving significant revenue from fees for miners.

Pioneering efforts in Bitcoin timestamping for PoS chains

One notable organization actively working on implementing this functionality is Babylon, a sovereign blockchain in the Cosmos ecosystem. Babylon aims to enable blockchains to submit proofs, which will timestamp onto the Bitcoin mainnet.

In the Cosmos ecosystem, the unbonding times for chains range from 14 to 28 days. With Babylon’s service, these unbonding times could shrink to as little as a day or less. This innovation represents a substantial leap forward for PoS chains, addressing one of their key criticisms: lack of immutability.

A paradigm shift in bitcoin’s role

The introduction of timestamping to the Bitcoin mainnet has profound implications for the PoS ecosystem. It enhances security and alters the perception that rising Bitcoin fees are inherently detrimental to the mainnet. In the future, the primary users of Bitcoin mainnet may not be individuals or corporations but rather PoS blockchains seeking to secure their transactions and enjoy faster finality.
In conclusion, the future of Bitcoin mainnet holds exciting prospects as it pivots toward becoming a vital pillar of security for PoS chains. This shift not only reinforces the importance of Bitcoin in the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem but also opens up new revenue streams and use cases for the network. As innovation continues to reshape the crypto landscape, Bitcoin’s adaptability and versatility shine brighter than ever.

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