Simply put
- BRC-2.0 has integrated EVM functionality into Bitcoin’s BRC-20 indexer.
- This upgrade aims to move Bitcoin tokens beyond just memes toward programmable assets.
- A supporter suggests that Maube will place BRC-20 ahead of Runes by fostering the DeFi ecosystem.
The BRC-20, the first token standard natively built into Bitcoin’s base layer and indexer, marked its official launch with “BRC2.0” on Bitcoin Block height 912690, a Monday morning affair.
This enhancement adds EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) features to the core BRC-20 indexer, enabling developers to deploy Ethereum-style smart contracts on Bitcoin without the need for bridges, oracles, or other intermediaries.
As a result, developers can now create programs using Bitcoin native tokens, transforming BRC-20 assets into adaptable tools that can interact effectively with EVM-compatible chains.
Best In Slot, a key player in the Adinals Ecosystem, developed the BRC2.0 upgrade alongside Domo, the pseudonymous creator of BRC20, and the Governance Body that supervises the Layer 1 protocol.
“Bitcoin meta protocols such as ordinals, runes, and BRC20 operate on this indexer,” explained Eril Binari Ezerel, CEO of Best In Slot. “We enhanced this ‘calculator style’ indexer with EVM capabilities.”
From meme coins to modular apps
Since launching earlier in 2023, the BRC-20 has recorded over $3 billion in asset trades, achieving this remarkable figure without outside investment or institutional backing.
Despite a dip in overall activity in 2025, BRC-20 trading volumes have remained strong, totaling 5,636 BTC (about $633 million) in the last six months.
The new Smart Contract feature broadens the potential uses for Bitcoin’s native assets.
Until now, tokens were mainly utilized for memes and speculative trading, largely due to Bitcoin’s limitations in programming opportunities.
“Bitcoin’s native assets haven’t gained much traction because, let’s face it, Bitcoin often feels more like a meme,” Ezerel noted. “One of the primary purposes of BRC2.0 is to introduce the diverse application ecosystem found in Ethereum into Bitcoin.”
BRC2.0 joins a developing array of programmable Bitcoin layers, including the WASM-based Arkanes standard, which has rapidly grown to account for nearly a third of all transactions related to metaprotocols in Q3.
Comparison with Runes
So, what implications does this hold for the current landscape of Bitcoin-related tokens?
“The Bitcoin token market is largely dominated by memecoins, so competition is quite fierce,” remarked Asher Corson, CIO of Unbroken Chain, the first institutionally supported liquid trading fund in the Bitcoin ordinance ecosystem.
“This newfound programmability and debt capabilities should revitalize interest, and we may see profits manifest in inscriptions, potentially spurring another bull run for Bitcoin assets,” he added.
Corson also compared these developments to runes, emphasizing how this distinguishes BRC-20 in terms of functionality.
“The BRC-20 2.0 upgrade introduces programmability, whereas runes essentially do not. This limits runes to being mere coins, unlike BRC-20 2.0, which can actually support the DeFi ecosystem.”
Bridging two giants
With the integration of EVM into the BRC20 core layer, developers can build decentralized applications (DAPPs) directly on Bitcoin, while also remaining compatible with Ethereum’s tools. No more bridges or wrapped assets—just the native complexity of Bitcoin.
“The ideal scenario merges two gold standards: Bitcoin is the most decentralized and secure network, and EVM is the most reliable virtual machine,” remarked Domo, the creator of BRC20. “Our goal is to offer users a complex, programmable Ethereum-like experience while ensuring protection through Bitcoin.”
