Topic · How blockchains work
What is Taproot in bitcoin?
- Quick fact 1
Taproot’s spending rules are defined in BIP 341.
- Quick fact 2
BIP 340 adds Schnorr signatures for bitcoin.
- Quick fact 3
Taproot uses SegWit version 1 outputs.
The short lesson
Taproot is a bitcoin upgrade that activated in November 2021 as a soft fork. It builds on SegWit.
What it added
- Schnorr signatures. A signature type that can combine several signers into one compact signature in some setups.
- Hidden spending conditions. A coin can have a simple main way to spend plus backup conditions (for example, a time lock). If the main way is used, the backup conditions never have to be revealed.
Why it matters
Before Taproot, complex arrangements like multisig often looked different on the blockchain. With Taproot, many of them can look like an ordinary single-signer payment. That helps privacy and can reduce fees.
How you see it
Taproot addresses start with bc1p. You do not need one, and your older addresses keep working.
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Related terms
Go deeper in Lesson 4: The shared list everyone can check
More in How blockchains work
Common questions
Do I need to move my coins to Taproot?
No. It is optional.
Is Taproot related to Ordinals?
Ordinals inscriptions use Taproot script space, but Taproot was designed for spending conditions and privacy.
Can every service send to bc1p addresses?
Most modern ones can. Check before sending from an older service.
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Reviewed and sources
Written and reviewed by Joshua Baskin, founder. Last reviewed . How we check facts · Report an error
Education only. Not investment, tax or legal advice. We do not pick coins.