Taproot
Taproot is a Bitcoin protocol upgrade from November 2021 that introduced Schnorr signatures, MAST scripts and privacy benefits.
Taproot was Bitcoin's biggest upgrade since SegWit. It makes complex transactions (multisig, Lightning channels, covenants) look on-chain the same as normal single-sig transactions. Benefits: smaller transactions (lower fees), improved privacy, and new scripting possibilities (MAST). Addresses start with bc1p... Adoption grows slowly — around 25% of transactions in 2026.
Example
A 2-of-3 multisig spend without Taproot: large, visibly multisig on-chain. With Taproot (key-path spend via MuSig2): compact, indistinguishable from single-sig. Privacy and fee win.
Frequently asked questions
Difference between SegWit and Taproot addresses?
SegWit (BIP84): bc1q..., 42 chars. Taproot (BIP86): bc1p..., 62 chars. Both are native bech32.
Related terms
Further reading
- → Our service: Bitcoin sector