Bitcoin
#CAT20 Protocol,
#OPCAT $OPCAT
Contract Authentication Token
#CAT Protocol,
We propose a new type of Bitcoin token protocol based on UTXO, called the 'Contract Authentication Token (CAT) Protocol'. This protocol is validated by miners and utilizes smart contracts (specifically contracts) to manage the minting and transfer of tokens. Compared to all existing token protocols on Bitcoin, it is enforced solely by the first layer Bitcoin script and has the following features.
No Indexer Required: The rule set for the tokens is guaranteed by Bitcoin consensus. Token data and logic reside on-chain. It does not rely on any off-chain third parties (such as indexers) to operate. There is no risk of indexer inconsistency, and CAT tokens inherit the proof-of-work security of native Bitcoin.
Modular: As CAT tokens can be verified within scripts, they can be used in other smart contracts and combined into more complex, interconnected decentralized applications, such as automated market makers (AMM), lending, and staking. The modularity and composability of CAT tokens provide powerful and versatile new building blocks for expanding the application scope of Bitcoin.
Programmable Minting: The rules for token minting are not enforced by an indexer but are executed through minting smart contracts. These customizable and flexible contracts allow token issuers to specify arbitrary minting rules, including open minting. Over-minting transactions will be directly rejected by the network, rather than being rejected at the indexer, and will not be mined.
Cross-Chain Interoperability: The CAT protocol enables trustless asset bridging between different blockchains, allowing applications to operate across multiple blockchains. This bridging does not require users to trust anything other than the blockchain itself.
SPV Compatibility: CAT tokens support Simplified Payment Verification (SPV). Light clients (such as mobile devices) can independently verify the authenticity of tokens without trusting any central server. Similar to Bitcoin, sufficiently deep token transactions in the blockchain can be considered valid by light clients.
The CAT protocol supports fungible tokens (referred to as the CAT20 standard) as well as non-fungible tokens (referred to as the CAT721 standard). The technology developed here is universal and can be applied to use cases beyond tokens.