Article Summary, Automatically Generated By AI
Summary of STAMP Protocol
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STAMP Protocol:
Stores images on-chain in transaction outputs, making them immutable. -
Method:
Encode image binary content to base64 string, add to transaction description key, and broadcast using Counterparty protocol. -
Image constraints:
24×24 pixel, 8-colour-depth PNG or GIF, ideal for pixel art. -
STAMP numbering:
Based on transaction timestamp, starting from 0 and continuing indefinitely. -
Invalid transactions:
Those with invalid or indecipherable base64 strings will not be considered STAMPS.
About STAMP: Empowering a New Era of Digital Collectibles
STAMPS: A Novel Protocol for Immutable Image Storage in Transaction Outputs on the Bitcoin Blockchain
IMPORTANT NOTICE: As a blockchain-agnostic protocol, STAMPS is designed to transcend platform boundaries. For rules specific to the Bitcoin STAMPS project, please visit:
In the realm of NFTs, the notion of “Art on the Blockchain” as a means of achieving permanence is often a misconception. The majority of NFTs merely serve as pointers to centralized hosting or are stored on-chain in prunable witness data, thereby undermining their purported permanence. We propose a novel approach, wherein base64-formatted image data is embedded within transaction outputs, thereby ensuring a more robust and enduring form of digital art preservation.
The mechanism by which this is accomplished involves encoding an image’s binary content into a base64 string, appending this string to “STAMP:” in a transaction’s description key, and subsequently broadcasting it via the Counterparty protocol onto the Bitcoin ledger. Due to the string’s length, Counterparty defaults to bare multisig, thereby fragmenting the data into outputs rather than utilizing the limited (and prunable) OP_RETURN. Consequently, the data is preserved in a manner that renders it impossible to prune from a full node, thereby ensuring its immutable preservation in perpetuity.
Considering the expense of data preservation in this manner, we recommend the following guidelines: a 24×24 pixel image with an 8-colour depth, ideally in PNG or GIF format. The constraints of this “canvas” prove to be an ideal fit for pixel art, as exemplified by the CryptoPunks, which natively operate at a resolution of 24×24 pixels.
STAMPS will be sequentially numbered based on their corresponding transaction timestamps, thereby ensuring that the STAMPS directory is organized in a chronological order. The inaugural STAMP will be the first transaction to incorporate the “STAMP:” string, accompanied by a valid base64 string appended to the description key, and so forth. Conversely, transactions featuring invalid or unintelligible base64 strings will not be regarded as STAMPS. The STAMP numbering system will commence at zero and perpetuate indefinitely.