BTKN (Bitcoin Token) YO BTKN (Bitcoin Token) is our adaptation of the LRC-20 protocol, specifically optimized for Spark. We discovered LRC-20 in Summer 2024 and were impressed by its native Bitcoin token design and issuer-first features. However, as we pushed its limits and adapted it for Spark’s unique architecture, we realized we needed to make significant improvements and changes that warranted its own identity. We kept the core principles that made LRC-20 brilliant — native Bitcoin compatibility and robust token mechanics — while enhancing it for Spark’s specific use cases. The result is BTKN: a protocol that maintains backward compatibility with L1 while unlocking the full potential of what token issuance can be on Spark.

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TL;DR

BTKN has two key components: Bitcoin (L1) as the settlement layer and Spark as the execution engine. On Bitcoin (L1), BTKN works by tweaking Bitcoin addresses in a way that embeds token data inside regular transactions. Bitcoin nodes process these transactions as usual, but BTKN-aware nodes can extract and verify token movements by watching how those keys are adjusted. On Spark, BTKN doesn’t need to play the same tricks as L1, we don’t tweak keys. Instead, they exist natively as metadata within Spark’s TTXOs. When an issuer mints new tokens, they submit a transaction embedding the token’s details—amount, ID, and properties—directly into a designated TTXO. Spark Operators validate these transactions, making sure they follow protocol rules and attesting to state changes. They then share this data with BTKN nodes, which continuously track transactions and keep Spark in sync with L1. BTKN tokens on Spark inherit the same L1 guarantees as Bitcoin—you can unilaterally exit your assets at any time.