ROOTBARS

Description ROOTBARS are meticulously crafted as SVG files with exact sizes (1kB, 2kB, 4kB, 8kB, 16kB), representing the value of blockspace on the Rootstock chain. These unique digital assets blend the art of SVG design with the intrinsic value of blockchain technology, providing a novel way to understand and trade blockspace. Core Concept What Are ROOTBARS? ROOTBARS are SVG files, each created to exact file sizes of 1kB, 2kB, 4kB, 8kB, and 16kB. These sizes are not arbitrary; they symbolize the precise value of blockspace on the Rootstock blockchain, turning digital real estate into a valuable, tradeable asset. Smart Contract Development ROOTBARS were developed during Eth Global Brussels 2024. We deployed one collection with no permissions, allowing anyone to mint ROOTBARS freely. Additionally, we introduced a special collection called "ROOTBARS: Eth Global Brussels 2024 Edition," which can only be minted during the hackathon, making it a unique and time-limited collectible. Ordinals and Teleburning With the teleburn feature on the ordinals protocol, we let users teleburn EVM assets onto ordinals inscriptions. We minted a new collection of inscriptions on Bitcoin, called BitRootBars, in 1kB sizes. To create your BitRootBar, you first acquire a BitRootBar and then send a 1kB ROOTBAR to the teleburn address. Each BitRootBar thus represents 1kB of blockspace on both Bitcoin and Rootstock Mainnet, creating a unique NFT that bridges both chains. Dual-Chain Value ROOTBARS uniquely merge the blockspace value of both Bitcoin and Rootstock Mainnet. This dual-chain representation enhances the significance and value of each ROOTBAR, making them a revolutionary digital asset in the blockchain ecosystem. Inspiration The design of ROOTBARS is inspired by BitBars, a Bitcoin NFT project. The gold bar appearance of ROOTBARS conveys a sense of value and symbolizes the importance of blockspace as a precious commodity. Just like gold bars, ROOTBARS showcase the inherent value of used blockspace. Future Editions For future editions of ROOTBARS, we aim to: Explore the possibility of storing larger SVGs (32kB, 64kB, etc.). Optimize gas costs per kB to make the minting process more efficient. Enable users to store valuable public data inside ROOTBARS, increasing their utility beyond mere dummy data. Addressing Concerns Isn't this a spam attack? We believe that what some might see as spam, others see as treasure. Blockchains are designed to be permissionless, allowing everyone to participate freely. Why not use off-chain storage to save costs? The core purpose of minting ROOTBARS is to spend gas to acquire tradable, transferrable blockspace. We view blockspace as a valuable commodity, and thus, gas efficiency, while important, is not our primary concern.

Technologies Used

1. Smart Contracts: We used Solidity to write the smart contracts for ROOTBARS, leveraging the Rootstock blockchain to deploy our collections. The contracts were designed to be permissionless, allowing anyone to mint ROOTBARS freely. For the special edition, we added time-based restrictions to limit minting to the duration of the Eth Global Brussels 2024 hackathon.
2. Ordinals Protocol: The ordinals protocol was utilized to enable teleburning EVM assets onto ordinals inscriptions. This protocol allows us to bridge assets from Rootstock to Bitcoin, creating BitRootBars that represent blockspace on both chains.
3. SVG Optimization: We carefully crafted and optimized SVG files to meet the exact size requirements (1kB, 2kB, 4kB, 8kB, 16kB). This involved meticulous design and compression techniques to ensure each SVG met the specified size without compromising visual quality.
4. Blockchain Integration: The integration of Rootstock and Bitcoin blockchains was a critical aspect of the project. We used specialized scripts to manage the teleburning process, ensuring smooth transfers and accurate representation of blockspace on both chains. Hacky and Notable Techniques
5. Permissionless Minting: Creating a fully permissionless minting process required innovative contract design to prevent abuse while maintaining openness. We implemented checks and balances within the smart contracts to ensure fair use.
6. Dual-Chain Representation: One of the most hacky and innovative parts of ROOTBARS is the dual-chain representation. By leveraging the ordinals protocol, we enabled ROOTBARS to represent blockspace on both Rootstock and Bitcoin, a first-of-its-kind feature in the NFT space.
7. Gas Efficiency: While gas efficiency is not our primary concern, we did implement several optimizations to reduce costs where possible. This included optimizing the SVG files and smart contract code to minimize unnecessary gas expenditure.
8. Special Edition Constraints: For the Eth Global Brussels 2024 edition, we implemented time-based constraints within the smart contract, allowing minting only during the hackathon. This added a layer of exclusivity and urgency to the special edition collection. By combining advanced blockchain technology, innovative smart contract design, and meticulous SVG optimization, we created ROOTBARS as a unique, valuable, and tradeable digital asset that bridges two major blockchain ecosystems.