Overview of BTC Scalability

Bitcoin (BTC), launched in 2008 as a groundbreaking experiment in decentralized finance, has maintained consistent operation for almost 15 years. However, the initial emphasis on large-scale decentralization within the BTC protocol necessitated compromises in computational capabilities and throughput, limiting its applicability in diverse real-world scenarios.

This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the persistent scalability challenges faced by BTC throughout its history, with a focus on throughput capacity, decentralized network scale, and computational complexity. Based on this analysis, we propose a refined design guideline and practical architectural considerations for future development.