RGB vs RGB++: Two Protocols, Two Organizations
RGB vs RGB++ — in brief
- Two separate protocols sharing the same name — different teams, different blockchains, no shared code
- RGB Protocol on Bitcoin: Bitcoin only, client-side validation, asset data stays private off-chain
- RGB++: requires Bitcoin + Nervos/CKB companion chain; asset state publicly visible on CKB
- RGB++ is not an upgrade of RGB Protocol on Bitcoin
What is RGB Protocol on Bitcoin?
RGB Protocol on Bitcoin is a protocol for issuing and transferring digital assets and private contracts natively on Bitcoin and Lightning Network, without sidechains, bridges, or companion blockchains.
How it works — client-side validation
RGB uses a technique called client-side validation: the data describing an asset (its history, ownership, state) is kept off-chain between the parties involved. Only a small cryptographic commitment (a hash) is anchored into a Bitcoin transaction, which means that asset data never goes on the Bitcoin blockchain: it stays private between sender and receiver. Bitcoin is used purely as a timestamping and anti-double-spend anchor.
To prevent double-spending, RGB uses single-use seals: each asset state is bound to a Bitcoin UTXO, which can only be spent once. When an asset is transferred, the UTXO is spent and the new state is committed in the new transaction.
Lightning Network integration
RGB integrates natively with Lightning Network, enabling instant, low-fee asset transfers without on-chain transactions. This aspect makes RGB Protocol suitable for stablecoin payments and high-frequency asset transfers.
Asset types
RGB v0.11.1 supports five asset schemas: NIA (non-inflatable fungible tokens), IFA (inflatable fungible assets), UDA (unique digital assets / NFTs), CFA (collectible fungible assets), and PFA (permissioned fungible assets).
Ecosystem and adoption
RGB Protocol on Bitcoin v0.11.1 has been live on Bitcoin mainnet since July 2025. In August 2025, Tether announced plans to issue USDT on RGB, the first Bitcoin-native stablecoin without sidechains or bridges. An active ecosystem of wallets, exchanges, and infrastructure projects is already building on the protocol — see the full list on the RGB ecosystem page.
Supported by: the RGB Protocol Association, funded by Bitfinex, Fulgur Ventures, and Tether.
Official sources: rgb.info · docs.rgb.info · github.com/rgb-protocol · github.com/RGB-Tools
Further reading: What is RGB Protocol on Bitcoin — A Technical Guide by Federico Tenga, co-founder of the RGB Protocol Association.
What is RGB++?
RGB++ is an independent protocol developed by Cipher from CELL Studio. It is inspired by client-side validation concepts but takes a different architectural approach: it introduces a companion blockchain, Nervos CKB (Common Knowledge Base), to handle shared state and contract execution alongside Bitcoin.
How it works — isomorphic binding
RGB++ uses a mechanism called isomorphic binding: Bitcoin UTXOs are mapped one-to-one to CKB Cells. When a user performs an RGB++ transaction, two transactions are generated simultaneously: one on Bitcoin and one on Nervos CKB. Bitcoin provides security and ownership (the UTXO model), while CKB handles contract validation and shared state.
Every RGB++ transaction depends on both networks operating correctly. Contract logic runs on CKB, introducing it as an additional trust assumption beyond Bitcoin.
Bitcoin and Nervos CKB
In RGB++, Bitcoin anchors asset ownership via UTXOs, while Nervos CKB handles contract execution and shared state. CKB Cells are publicly readable on-chain, so both networks must be operational for RGB++ to function.
Asset types
RGB++ supports token issuance and asset transfers via CKB scripts. Asset state is stored in CKB Cells and is publicly visible on the CKB blockchain (unlike RGB Protocol on Bitcoin, where asset data is exchanged privately between parties and never touches any blockchain).
Ecosystem and adoption
RGB++ is live on the Nervos CKB mainnet. It is developed by CELL Studio under the utxostack organization. Projects within the Nervos/CKB ecosystem use RGB++ for token issuance and asset transfers on CKB.
Developed by: Cipher (CELL Studio), with contributions from members of the Nervos/CKB community including Ajian, cyberorange, and Jan. Maintained under the utxostack organization.
Official sources: rgbpp.com · github.com/ckb-cell/RGBPlusPlus-design
RGB++ is not an upgrade of RGB Protocol on Bitcoin
Some sources describe RGB++ as “compatible with” or an “evolution of” RGB Protocol on Bitcoin. This framing is inaccurate.
RGB++ is a separate protocol that made a fundamentally different architectural decision: it introduces Nervos/CKB as a required companion chain alongside Bitcoin. RGB Protocol on Bitcoin, by contrast, requires only Bitcoin — no additional blockchain is involved.
The two protocols share some conceptual inspiration (UTXO model, client-side validation principles) and share the name “RGB”. That is where the connection ends. They have no shared codebase, no shared roadmap, and no organizational coordination.
Side-by-side comparison
The table below summarizes the key technical differences between RGB Protocol on Bitcoin and RGB++.
| RGB Protocol on Bitcoin | RGB++ | |
|---|---|---|
| Underlying blockchain | Bitcoin only | Bitcoin + Nervos/CKB |
| Companion chain required | No | Yes (CKB) |
| Smart contract execution | AluVM (off-chain, client-side, no extra chain) | CKB scripts (on-chain on CKB) |
| Asset data | Off-chain, private between parties | CKB Cells (on-chain on CKB) |
| Lightning Network | Native integration | Not native |
| Organization | RGB Protocol Association | CELL Studio / utxostack |
| Mainnet status | Live with v0.11.1 | Live on CKB mainnet |
| Official source | rgb.info | rgbpp.com |
| Connection to the other | None | None |
Four things called “RGB” — complete disambiguation
Four distinct things share the name “RGB”:
- RGB Protocol on Bitcoin — Bitcoin-native asset protocol using client-side validation. Current version: v0.11.1. Official source: rgb.info
- RGB v0.12 — A separate, non-mainnet rewrite of the protocol by RGB Tech. Not an upgrade of RGB v0.11.1 and not supported by the RGB Protocol Association.
- RGB++ — Protocol using Bitcoin UTXOs and Nervos/CKB as companion chain. Developed by CELL Studio. Unrelated to RGB Protocol on Bitcoin.
- RGB color model — Red, Green, Blue. Used in displays and image processing. Unrelated to any of the above.
RGB Protocol Association — rgb.info · docs.rgb.info
