Bitcoin (BTC) developer and advocate Jimmy Song criticized the decision by Bitcoin Core developers to remove the 80-byte limit on non-monetary data OP_Return embedded in the Bitcoin blockchain in the upcoming Bitcoin Core 30 upgrade, calling it a "fiat" mentality.
Song accused Core developers of avoiding user concerns about the removal of the OP_Return limit and ignoring the strong opposition from the Bitcoin community and node operators. He also stated:
"You can argue whether this is ideal, but saying you can't define it is a delaying tactic aimed at avoiding a real discussion about the actual impact—especially the long-term effects of this change," Song continued.
The OPReturn debate has been ongoing for nearly six months, reminiscent of the Bitcoin block size wars from 2015 to 2017, which ultimately led to a hard fork of the Bitcoin protocol and the creation of Bitcoin Cash (BCH). This has led some in the Bitcoin community to speculate whether the OPReturn war will result in a similar split.
The unilateral decision by Bitcoin Core developers to open up the OP_Return data limit has divided the Bitcoin community and driven a record number of Bitcoin node operators to switch to Bitcoin Knots, an alternative implementation of Bitcoin node software.
The surge in nodes running Bitcoin Knots has now reached about 20% of the network, compared to around 1% in 2024, achieving an almost vertical leap in just nine months.
Knots allows node operators to enforce strict data size limits, which supporters argue is necessary to maintain the decentralization of the Bitcoin protocol.
Since the inception of the decentralized protocol in 2009, the Bitcoin ledger has generated approximately 680GB of data, thanks to Bitcoin's simple architecture and strict data limits.
Bitcoin's low data storage requirements enable anyone to run a node on retail computer hardware costing only $300, democratizing access and ensuring maximum decentralization.
In contrast, high-throughput blockchain networks and smart contract platforms that generate more data can have operating costs reaching tens of thousands of dollars, requiring specialized commercial hardware, which means only wealthy investors and large companies can run nodes and execute the consensus rules of these protocols.
The strong hardware requirements increase the centralization of blockchain protocols and heighten the risk that a few nodes may collude to change consensus rules or reverse transactions.
Related: Solana Founder: Bitcoin (BTC) Must Act Quickly to Beat Quantum Computing by 2030
Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko predicted a "50-50" chance of a breakthrough in quantum computing by 2030 and stated that the Bitcoin (BTC) community must "pick up the pace."
Original article: “Jimmy Song Slams Bitcoin Core Developers' 'Fiat' Mentality on OP_Return Issue”
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