What is PayToAnchor?
PayToAnchor is a script that allows anchor nodes to be used as payment addresses for transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain. Anchor nodes are responsible for verifying transaction data, creating new blocks, and maintaining the integrity of the blockchain. By using PTAs, these nodes can now act as payment anchors, allowing them to accept payments from other users without having to broadcast the entire transaction.
The v28.0 PayToAnchor script
The v28.0 PayToAnchor script is defined in the script.cpp file of the Bitcoin source code repository. Here is a high-level overview of the script:
c
#include
#include "script/script.h"
Namespace Bitcoin {
Structure Anchor_Script {
uint8_t paytoanchor_code[18];
uint8_t number of data to anchor;
AnchorScriptType paytoanchor_type;
};
Structure paytoanchor_script {
PayToAnchor payToAnchor;
};
PAYTOANCHOR_SCRIPT(PayToAnchor script)
: paytoanchor(AnchorScriptType::PayToAnchor) {}
} // Namespace Bitcoin
The variable “paytoanchor” is an instance of the enumeration “AnchorScriptType::PayToAnchor” that specifies the type of anchor node represented by the script.
PaytoAnchor script data structure
The paytoanchor_script structure contains two members:
1. “Paytoanchor_code”: an 18-byte array containing the pay-to-anchor code used for transaction data.
2. “paytoanchor_data_size”: an unsigned integer specifying the size of the data paid to anchors.
3. “paytoanchor_type”: enumeration value defining the type of anchor node.
AnchorScriptType
The AnchorScriptType namespace defines two values: PayToAnchor and Unknown Anchor (UAN). The PayToAnchor value indicates that this script represents a pay-to-anchor node, while UAN is used if no specific anchor node type is specified.
PaytoAnchors on the Bitcoin network
When a transaction is sent to the Bitcoin network using the v28.0 PayToAnchor script, it is split into three parts:
1. The transaction data itself.
2. “Pay to Anchors” header (PAYTOANCHOR_SCRIPT) defining the anchor node type and associated code.
3. The remaining transaction data.
The Pay-to-Anchors header is encoded in two 32-byte blocks: “paytoanchor_code” and “paytoanchor_data_size”. The first block contains the Pay-to-Anchors code, while the second block contains the size of the Pay-to-Anchors data.
Conclusion
In summary, the PayToAnchor script v28.0 is a key component of Bitcoin’s scalability improvements. By allowing anchor nodes to act as payment addresses, this script facilitates the creation of new blockchains and increases the overall functionality of the Bitcoin network. Understanding the underlying mechanics of PayToAnchor scripts can help developers working on Bitcoin-related projects develop more effective solutions to improve scalability and usability.
Additional Resources
For more information, see the following resources:
- Bitcoin Core 27.1 documentation: < Bitcoin Core 28.0 documentation: < hu/28.0/script/>
