Eli Ben Sasson, CEO of StarkWare, anticipates that OP_CAT, a significant upgrade to the Bitcoin network, could launch within the next 12 months. This upgrade is poised to deliver substantial enhancements, including covenants, ZK-rollups, and layer 2 networks, marking Starknet as the first layer-2 network capable of settling on both Bitcoin and Ethereum natively. Ben Sasson explained that OP_CAT simplifies Bitcoin's utility by reactivating an opcode through a soft fork, likening Bitcoin's current function to a basic calculator, while OP_CAT will introduce a feature to concatenate strings, expanding its computational capabilities. He believes this upgrade aims to fulfill Bitcoin's original mission. Additionally, experts have discussed how OP_CAT could elevate Bitcoin's decentralized finance activity and volume, addressing concerns that current sidechains lack the security and innovation necessary for Bitcoin holders to utilize their assets effectively.

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