BRC-20‘s core indexer upgraded at Bitcoin block height 912690 to BRC2.0, embedding the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) directly into the protocol. The change lets developers deploy Ethereum-style smart contracts that run natively against Bitcoin-based tokens, without bridges, wrapped assets or trusted intermediaries.
The upgrade was built by Best In Slot with contributions from BRC-20’s pseudonymous creator Domo and governance from the Layer 1 Foundation. By transforming the indexer from a simple recorder into a Turing-complete execution layer, proponents say BRC2.0 turns previously static, meme-focused tokens into composable, interoperable instruments able to interact with EVM-compatible chains and scaling layers.
Why this matters: since BRC-20 first appeared in early 2023 the standard has facilitated more than $3 billion in traded value. Even as activity cooled in 2025, BRC-20 recorded 5,636 BTC (about US$633 million) in on-chain volume over the last six months — outpacing Runes and traditional Ordinals inscriptions. With smart contracts, BRC-20 assets can support decentralized finance building blocks such as automated markets, lending primitives and more sophisticated token mechanics.
How BRC2.0 compares: unlike Runes — which remain non-programmable — BRC2.0 adds composability and the potential to host a Bitcoin-native DeFi ecosystem. It also joins other programmable Bitcoin efforts, including the WASM-based Alkanes standard, which has recently taken a sizeable share of meta-protocol transactions.
Risks and caveats: embedding EVM semantics into indexers changes the attack surface. Security, audit quality, and the centralization of indexer infrastructure matter more than ever. Developers should expect compatibility work, tooling evolution, and governance debates as the ecosystem adapts. Market participants should also recognize that a technical upgrade does not guarantee immediate user adoption or price appreciation.
Bottom line: BRC-20 2.0 is a technical shift aimed at marrying Bitcoin’s security with EVM composability — opening new use cases for Bitcoin-native tokens while raising fresh operational and security questions for developers and node operators.
Source: Decrypt. Read the original coverage for full details.