Bitcoin's OP_CAT Proposal Could Change the Bitcoin Blockchain

The Bitcoin blockchain could change significantly in 2026 with the introduction of the Runes protocol and the OP_CAT proposal. On April 19, the Runes protocol was launched at the time of Bitcoin's fourth halving, with the aim of generating Bitcoin native tokens more efficiently. Within two days of its launch, more than 7,000 Runes tokens were minted, and more than 91,000 have been minted so far, with transaction fees reaching $4.50 million.
The Runes protocol has not only promoted token generation, but also liquidity staking, investment activities, second-layer scaling, and DeFi innovation. However, Runes is only part of the BTCFi revolution. The OP_CAT proposal expected to be passed in 2025 will re-enable Bitcoin smart contract functionality, allowing the creation of conditions and rules, opening up the possibility of the development of second layers, smart contracts, and more.