What did Rich Rine say about CORE and the Hermes upgrade?

Rich Rine compared CORE’s Hermes upgrade to early electricity, describing it as a breakthrough that transforms the Core Chain into a foundational 'Bitcoin Power Grid' for decentralized infrastructure.

Why is CORE being compared to early electricity?

CORE’s new faster finality, infrastructure stability, and programmability mirror how early electricity empowered new industries. Rine believes CORE will similarly power new Web3 applications.

What impact does the Hermes upgrade have on Core Chain?

Hermes brings 2-block finality, more security, and more developer capability on Core Chain, enabling new product categories and accelerating ecosystem growth.

What does 'Bitcoin Power Grid' mean?

It refers to a blockchain network built on Bitcoin security that can power decentralized apps, financial tools, and next-generation Web3 platforms—similar to how electric grids powered industrial innovation.

BREAKING: Rich Rines likens CoreDAO to “Early Electricity,” Crowning Core as the “Bitcoin Power Grid”

Illustration showing CORE blockchain infrastructure evolving into a 'Bitcoin Power Grid' with electricity-grid-inspired visuals and decentralized nodes

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), CoreDAO contributor Rich Rines drew a bold analogy: he compared Core to early electricity, calling the network the “Bitcoin Power Grid.” This metaphor captures a deep shift — from Bitcoin as a static store-of-value to a dynamic financial infrastructure.

Rines argues that for too long Bitcoin sat idle — a digital gold that did nothing but hold value. With Core, he says, Bitcoin can finally “power” new rails like staking, DeFi, and smart-contract applications — just as electricity transformed stored energy into lighting, motion, and industrial power.

What is CoreDAO — and why the “Power Grid” metaphor matters

CoreDAO is built on a hybrid blockchain architecture aiming to merge the security of Bitcoin with the flexibility of EVM-compatible smart contracts. Its core innovation is the consensus mechanism known as Satoshi Plus.

Satoshi Plus integrates three distinct pillars of participation and security:

Bitcoin miners can delegate their hashpower to support Core validators (Delegated Proof of Work, DPoW).
Bitcoin holders can stake their BTC using native timelock functions — without wrapping or relinquishing custody — and vote for validators.
CORE token holders can delegate their tokens via Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) to validators.

This tri-layer combination allows Core to benefit from Bitcoin’s immense hashpower and battle-tested security, while offering EVM smart-contract compatibility, fast transaction finality, and scalability.

In effect, Core becomes a blockchain that blends “Bitcoin-grade security” with “Ethereum-like programmability.” For many, that represents a long-awaited bridge between two dominant crypto paradigms.

How Core turns idle Bitcoin into productive, yield-bearing capital

One of the most significant innovations of CoreDAO — and the foundation of Rines’ “power grid” metaphor — is its native Bitcoin staking mechanism. For the first time, Bitcoin holders can stake BTC without giving up custody or relying on third-party custody or wrapped tokens.

Self-Custodial Bitcoin Staking

By using Bitcoin’s built-in CLTV (CheckLockTimeVerify) timelock feature, BTC holders lock their coins for a certain period and delegate voting power to Core validators. BTC remains on the Bitcoin blockchain, under the user’s control.

When validators produce blocks and secure the network, stakers receive rewards in CORE tokens — turning previously idle BTC into yield-generating assets.

Dual Staking: Boosting Yield with CORE + BTC

CoreDAO also offers a “Dual Staking” mechanism: by staking BTC and CORE tokens simultaneously, users can unlock higher yields. The more CORE staked relative to BTC, the greater the rewards, according to Core’s tier structure.

This aligns incentives — encouraging Bitcoin holders not just to stake, but to also join the CORE economy, strengthening network security and staking participation across both assets.

Why the “Bitcoin Power Grid” vision could reshape crypto’s future

Rines’ electricity metaphor resonates because, at its core, Core aims to transform Bitcoin from a passive asset to an active financial infrastructure.

From store-of-value to yield engine: Users can now earn yield — turning frozen capital into productive assets.
Security without compromise: By integrating Bitcoin mining security and native BTC staking, Core preserves Bitcoin’s decentralization and robustness while enabling smart-contract capabilities.
Scalability and performance: Core is built for fast transactions and smart-contract execution — overcoming limitations of Bitcoin’s own network throughput and latency.
Bridging communities: Core can attract both Bitcoin maximalists and smart-contract developers, uniting them on a “Bitcoin-first” EVM chain.

In Rines’ view, Core isn’t just a new blockchain — it’s a new paradigm. Just as electricity reshaped the physical world by powering homes, factories, and infrastructure — Core aims to power a new era of Bitcoin-driven finance: staking, DeFi, liquidity, and decentralized applications.

What the early numbers say — and what to watch moving forward

According to public data from CoreDAO, the journey from conceptual innovation to real-world uptake has already started. Since launching non-custodial Bitcoin staking in April 2024, Core has offered the first live yield-bearing option for native BTC — drastically reducing the barrier for Bitcoin holders to earn.

Moreover, by combining BTC staking, CORE staking, and mining hashpower delegation, Core’s security model has drawn interest from both retail and institutional actors — a key factor if the “Bitcoin Power Grid” vision is to scale meaningfully.

Still, there are challenges to monitor:

Token volatility: Rewards are distributed in CORE, whose price can fluctuate.
Validator and network risks: Delegation distribution and validator performance affect network integrity.
Adoption & liquidity: Core needs widespread use by Bitcoin holders and developers.
Competition & perception: Core must win trust in a space dominated by older chains.

Final Thoughts — Is CoreDAO the “Electricity” Bitcoin Needs?

Rich Rines’ comparison of CoreDAO to early electricity is more than clever branding — it’s a succinct way to frame what Core aims to become: a foundational infrastructure that gives Bitcoin more utility, flexibility, and actionable potential.

By enabling native, self-custodial staking of Bitcoin, integrating mining power, and offering EVM-compatibility, Core stands at an intersection few projects have successfully addressed. If it delivers on its promise — stable staking yields, robust security, and developer adoption — Core could evolve into what Rines calls the “Bitcoin Power Grid.”

For Bitcoin holders, the question is no longer just “HODL or spend?” — but “HODL and earn.”

This could mark a major milestone not just for CoreDAO, but for the broader evolution of Bitcoin from “digital gold” to “programmable money.”

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. Cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies are inherently risky and volatile. Always conduct your own research (DYOR) before staking or investing.

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