Unisat-backed Fractal Bitcoin goes live on mainnet, taps into BTC core code for scaling solution

Fractal Bitcoin, a highly anticipated Bitcoin scaling solution backed by wallet provider Unisat, has launched its mainnet today, introducing a scaling solution that operates directly on the Bitcoin Core codebase.

The mainnet debut follows a series of tests on a testnet that began in July 2024. Fractal Bitcoin claims to be the only Bitcoin scaling solution that uses the core code itself. It aims to differentiate itself from other Bitcoin sidechains and purported Layer 2 solutions by focusing on Bitcoin-native constructs rather than Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility. Furthermore, this approach integrates the OP_CAT opcode to expand Bitcoin’s functionality.

The project noted that the network claims to achieve block confirmation times of under 30 seconds and supports a 20 times increase in capacity per layer through what's known as recursive layering. Fractal can natively support Bitcoin protocols such as BRC-20, Runes, Ordinals, and others. A decentralized exchange known as PizzaSwap will become available on the mainnet.

It also incorporates a new mining structure called “Cadence Mining,” which combines permissionless mining with merged mining with Bitcoin to improve network security. Bitcoin-based wallet app Unisat and blockchain investor and development firm Block Space Force lead the project as core contributors. 

With the mainnet, the project has also rolled out its native token with the ticker FB, which has a total supply of 210 million tokens.