Bitcoin Added to US Cybersecurity Watchlist Over Inscription Spam Risk
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The US National Vulnerability Database added Bitcoin inscriptions as a cybersecurity risk on Dec. 9th, calling attention to the security flaw that enabled Ordinals Protocol in 2022.
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Being added to the NVD means a specific vulnerability is recognized as important for public awareness by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
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Bitcoin's vulnerability is listed in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) System and is under analysis. It could result in more data spamming the blockchain, impacting fees and performance.
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The vulnerability allowed the Ordinals Protocol to directly embed digital art into Bitcoin transactions in late 2022, which clogged the network several times in 2023.
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If the vulnerability is patched, it could restrict future Ordinals inscriptions, but existing ones would remain due to blockchain immutability.