OP_CAT

OP_CAT was originally an opcode in Bitcoin. It was disabled in 2010 but slight variations on it are frequently proposed to be added to Bitcoin using a soft fork.

Both the original OP_CAT and the new proposals for it concatenate two elements on the stack into a single element. For example, the following script:

<0xB10C> <0xCAFE> OP_CAT

Would become:

<0xB10CCAFE>

The primary expected use for OP_CAT is for data provided by the creator of a script to be concatenated with data provided by someone spending from that script. For example, Alice wants to create an equivocation bond that she can’t create competing spends for without putting her funds at risk. She generates a private key in the normal way, derives a public key from it in the normal way, chooses a random private nonce the same way she usually would for a schnorr signature, and derives the public nonce also in the normal way. She then pays to the following script:

<public nonce> OP_CAT <pubkey> OP_CHECKSIG

Later, when she signs, instead of providing a complete schnorr signature—which includes both a public nonce and a scalar—she’s forced to use the public nonce from her script. In her witness field, she only provides the scalar. The scalar and the public nonce are concatenated together to produce a BIP340 schnorr signature, which is then verified against Alice’s public key like normal using the OP_CHECKSIG opcode.

If Alice later tries to sign a different version of the transaction, she’s forced to reuse the same public nonce but must (because of the BIP340 equation) generate a different scalar. This reuse of the same nonce in different signatures from the same private key allows anyone to derive her private key. They can then create their own signatures for Alice’s private key, potentially spending her funds if they haven’t been spent already.

There are many other proposed applications of OP_CAT, see BIN24-1 for one list. Some applications, such as the example above, are possible with just OP_CAT and other features that are already part of Bitcoin script; other applications require additional new opcodes or other changes to Bitcoin.

Primary code and documentation

• BIN24-1: OP_CAT

Optech newsletter and website mentions

2024

• OP_PAIRCOMMIT opcode proposed to function like OP_CAT but without allowing recursive covenants`
• Post and website examining OP_CAT testing on the default signet
• OP_CAT research fund
• OP_CAT script to validate proof of work
• Bitcoin Inquisition 27.0 begins enforcing OP_CAT on signet
• BIPs #1525 adds BIP347 which proposes an OP_CAT opcode for tapscript
• Bitcoin PR Review Club for OP_CAT on signet with Bitcoin Inquisition
• Simple vault prototype using OP_CAT and schnorr signatures

2023

• Comments on draft BIP for OP_CAT
• Proposed BIP for OP_CAT
• Example of using the MATT proposal plus OP_CAT to manage joinpools
• Ark proposal would benefit from OP_CAT and OP_CHECKSIGFROMSTACK

2022

• Examination of the minimal set of features added to OP_CAT that would create recursive covenants

2021

• Discussion about OP_CHECKSIGFROMSTACK branches off into discussion about OP_CAT
• Replicating OP_CHECKSIGFROMSTACK with schnorr signatures and OP_CAT

2019

• Discussion about SIGHASH_ANYPREVOUT spins off into discussion about OP_CAT
• Alternative to COSHV (CTV) and SIGHASH_ANYPREVOUT: OP_CAT and OP_CHECKSIGFROMSTACK

See also

• OP_CHECKSIGFROMSTACK
• OP_CHECKTEMPLATEVERIFY

• MATT

  
  

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