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Charms

Concepts

The goal of this section is to explain what the Charms protocol is and why it exists — programmable assets on Bitcoin (and beyond), the problems it was built to solve, and how the pieces fit together.

If you want steps to follow to complete a task, see the How-to guides; if you need exact formats and APIs, see the Reference.

  • Why Charms? — the problem Charms solves and how it compares to other Bitcoin token protocols.
  • Apps — everything in Charms is an app; what an app contract is and how it governs assets.
  • Spells — the metadata that creates and transforms charms, and what makes a spell correct.
  • Transactions — how spells and their proofs are embedded in Bitcoin and Cardano transactions.
  • Beaming — moving charms across chains without a custodial bridge.
  • Scrolls — Internet Computer canisters that act as programmable, keyless signers for Charms.