Can BRC 2.0 Ignite a Second Spring for the BTC Ecosystem? Starting from a 100x NFT
It’s been a while since we last talked about the BTC ecosystem. As one of the world’s first Web3 exchanges to support inscription and Rune trading, we’ve witnessed firsthand the journey of BTC ecosystem — from its peak popularity to its decline. It’s hard not to feel a sense of regret.
However, in the summer of 2025, an NFT project called Adderrels soared from $15 to $2,300 in less than a month — a gain of over 100x — sparking a heated discussion around BRC 2.0 and pulling the “Bitcoin ecosystem” back into the spotlight of crypto users.
Is the BTC ecosystem back? That’s the question on many minds across the space. This time, is BRC 2.0 just hype — or a real turning point for the Bitcoin ecosystem?
This article will unpack BRC 2.0 across five dimensions — its technical upgrade, ecosystem shifts, market reactions, potential risks, and future outlook — to explain why this seemingly “quiet” upgrade might actually be a pivotal moment for the BTC ecosystem.
What is BRC 2.0? One-Sentence Summary
BRC 2.0 is a protocol upgrade launched by the core BRC-20 team, aiming to equip BRC-20 tokens with EVM smart contract capabilities, unlocking advanced use cases such as DeFi, stablecoins, and RWAs.
But take note — it’s not a brand-new protocol. It’s more of a “scaling upgrade” to the existing standard — enhancing compatibility and increasing functionality — so that “Bitcoin is not just a store of value” but can also engage in complex on-chain economic systems.
Why Do We Call BRC 2.0 the “Revival Signal” of the BTC Ecosystem?
- Has the Bitcoin ecosystem been in a state of limbo?
We’re all familiar with DeFi, GameFi, SocialFi — most of which thrive on Ethereum, Solana, or L2 networks. Bitcoin, despite being the origin of crypto, has seen its ecosystem stagnate.
Why?
Bitcoin doesn’t natively support smart contracts, making complex asset interactions difficult;
Most developers moved on to Ethereum or other EVM-compatible chains;
BTC lacked application scenarios — mostly held as a “store of value,” with little economic participation.
But that began to shift subtly with the emergence of Ordinals and BRC-20.
- BRC-20 and Ordinals: Opening the Gateway to Bitcoin’s “Asset Layer”
In early 2023, the Ordinals protocol introduced the concept of inscriptions, bringing NFTs and FTs to Bitcoin. Shortly after, BRC-20 emerged to standardize token issuance. Neither came from Bitcoin Core developers — but both unexpectedly lit up the market.
Still, while assets were created, functionality remained basic — transfers, buying/selling, simple minting. No DeFi, no staking, no governance. That’s exactly what BRC 2.0 aims to fix.
What Are the Core Changes of BRC 2.0 Compared to BRC-20?
- Programmability: EVM Modules Introduced, But Executed Off-Chain
The biggest highlight of BRC 2.0 is that it allows tokens to interact with EVM-compatible smart contracts. This means you can use the BTC network to do DeFi, mint stablecoins, create DAOs. But it uses off-chain execution + on-chain index updates.
Put simply:
You run an “EVM executor” off-chain;
It passes interaction results to a “BRC-20 indexer”;
The indexer updates state on Bitcoin’s chain.
Pros: High efficiency, avoids Bitcoin mainnet’s 10-minute delay.
Cons: More centralized, risks single-point failure.
- Ordinal Locker: NFT Locking to Unlock More Utility
Among BRC 2.0’s upgrades, one of the most imaginative modules is the Ordinal Locker — a feature launched by core team Best in Slot, designed to empower Bitcoin NFTs (Ordinals) with more on-chain use cases via locking mechanisms.
Think of it as a “time vault”: You can lock your NFT for a set period (1 hour, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year). During the lock, it can’t be transferred — but you gain:
Airdrop eligibility
Staking rewards
Governance voting rights
Even mining dividends
It leverages Bitcoin’s native timelock functionality to design something akin to Ethereum’s staking mechanism, dramatically expanding the utility of Ordinals.
This breaks away from the previous “buy and flip” model, giving project teams a tool for long-term operations. For example, Adderrels achieved a nearly 60% lock-up rate using Ordinal Locker, significantly reducing sell pressure and boosting community stickiness.
For users, this means NFTs are no longer just “profile pictures” — they’re yield-generating, utility-based assets. For the BTC ecosystem, this could be the key to building a sustainable economic system.
What’s Hot in the Market? Which Projects Are Worth Watching?
Adderrels — The 100x NFT Pioneer, Flagship of BRC 2.0
Minted in early July, starting at 0.0001269 BTC
Floor price quickly surged to 0.019 BTC (~$2,300)
59.7% locked
Community is highly active
Announced a “surprise airdrop snapshot” before mainnet launch
This project is essentially the poster child of BRC 2.0.LIQUID — Airdrop-Driven NFT
Free mint, no staking required
Simple mechanics, highly speculativeEarly Birds — Staking-Enabled BRC 2.0 NFT
Stake NFTs for extra rewards
A prototype of “stake-to-mine” modelButtmullets & Griftmo — Community/Narrative-Driven
Buttmullets has crossover with Adderrels
More of a meme + community play
These are all early-stage, high-risk ventures. SuperEx lists them for reference only — this is not investment advice.
Is BRC 2.0 Really Safe and Reliable?
Controversies:
Not executed on-chain; relies on indexers
Centralized components = potential black-box operations
Low project threshold; heavy hype cycles; high rug risk
Volatility is extreme; many projects could implode
But like many tech revolutions: Narratives come first, infrastructure follows. Mistakes come first, then refinement.
BRC 2.0 is currently in an “early spiral phase,” and its future depends on:
Whether it can attract developers to build real programmable apps;
Whether more BTC-native applications will launch;
Whether the trust issue of off-chain execution can be solved.
Why Might This Be a Turning Point for the BTC Ecosystem?
The BTC ecosystem has long been seen as “unscalable.” But from Ordinals to BRC-20, and now BRC 2.0, this old chain is showing signs of new life.
If things go well, it could trigger:
A new influx of users and developers
A shift from “store of value” to “application layer”
A complete revaluation of BTC’s market logic
BRC 2.0 may appear to be just a “feature upgrade,” but it’s essentially a systemic evolution of Bitcoin’s application layer.
Conclusion: What Seems Like Scraps Might Be Gold
Much like Ethereum smart contracts in their early days, BRC 2.0 may now look “immature,” “centralized,” and “too degen” — but it has undeniably reawakened the long-dormant BTC application ecosystem.
Once Bitcoin’s programmable economy is truly unlocked, we may witness a wave of innovation that starts from the very core of Bitcoin itself.
So, if you’re a long-term BTC believer, it’s worth paying close attention to the assets and projects around BRC 2.0.
Who knows — maybe the next 100x opportunity is closer than you think.
