Fractal is a new Bitcoin scaling network that launched this week, and they say it stays true to Bitcoin’s original code while allowing BTC to grow and share its security and infrastructure.
Fractal Bitcoin sidechain, a new hard fork
Fractal Bitcoin announced the launch of its mainnet on Sunday, and its code is very similar to Bitcoin’s own layer-1 blockchain. But there are some key differences.
For example, half of the total supply of Fractal was premined in the first block and is held by the issuing company. Other users will need to mine or buy coins to join the network.
As a nod to Bitcoin’s history, Fractal included the same message from Bitcoin’s first block about bank bailouts in its genesis block, which was attributed to the pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Despite some initial issues with block mining, the blockchain is now on track to fulfill its mission of “scaling Bitcoin natively.”
Fractal claims to be the only Bitcoin scaling solution that uses Bitcoin Core code to create unlimited layers on top of the most secure blockchain.
Unlike other scaling solutions, Fractal maintains the so-called self-replicating consistency with Bitcoin’s consensus, meaning all transactions and hashes on Fractal can be traced back to the main Bitcoin blockchain.
This close alignment with Bitcoin allows for easy compatibility with existing infrastructure, such as wallets and token standards.
One of the main contributors to Fractal is UniSat, a service that provides Bitcoin inscriptions and infrastructure support.
Key differences are the important details?
Fractal does have some differences from Bitcoin. For example, it has a faster block time of 30 seconds, allowing transactions to settle about 20 times quicker than on Bitcoin.
This is likely makes the true decentralization really problematic. Fractal can also support an unlimited number of layers built on top of each other, increasing transaction capacity by 20 times with each new layer.
The project describes itself as a ’dynamic blockspace load balancer’, which helps manage on-chain interactions and reduces congestion.
Fractal uses a unique consensus method called cadence mining. In this system, two out of every three blocks are mined on Fractal for its gas currency, FB.
As mentioned, half of the FB tokens were pre-mined and given to early participants, which raised concerns among some in the Bitcoin community.
Every third block on Fractal is merged with Bitcoin’s layer-1 blockchain, benefiting from Bitcoin’s strong proof-of-work security.
OP_CAT, the controversial feature
Fractal also features OP_CAT, an older Bitcoin code that developers are advocating to reinstate in Bitcoin’s layer-1.
This will allow for various applications on Fractal, including easily created ZK rollups, which are seen as a top solution for scaling blockchains and enhancing Bitcoin’s programmability.
Bitcoin Virtual Machine, a provider of rollups-as-a-service, plans to launch its infrastructure on Fractal this month.
They announced on Twitter, “We’ll bring EVM to Fractal,” meaning developers can easily move their Solidity applications from Ethereum to Fractal with minimal changes.
The introduction of Fractal could enhance Bitcoin’s scalability and usability, making it more appealing to developers and users alike.
Others arguing this new network is nothing more than another hard fork, like Bitcoin Cash, and won’t work as intended. Time will tell us.
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