The BIP, authored by Dathon Ohm and published Oct. 24, 2025, proposes a one-year soft fork called the “Reduced Data Temporary Soft fork.” It would cap OP_RETURN outputs at 83 bytes and invalidate any output scripts exceeding 34 bytes, among other changes.
The goal: prevent large, arbitrary data uploads to the blockchain that could expose node operators to legal or moral liability if illegal content were ever included. Supporters argue that unrestricted data storage could allow illicit material to be permanently embedded on the blockchain, forcing node operators to store and distribute it.
“The nature of Bitcoin requires users to run fully validating nodes,” the draft states. The proposal adds:
“If the blockchain contains content that is illegal to possess or distribute, node operators are forced to choose between violating the law or shutting down their node.”
The proposal would self-expire after about a year, during which developers could draft more permanent, less restrictive measures. Proponents view it as an emergency safeguard to prevent abuse of the OP_RETURN function, while critics contend it could set a precedent for protocol-level censorship.
Citing a slice of the BIP, Jameson Lopp quipped, “‘illegal or universally abhorrent content’ is poorly defined; there are a multitude of legal jurisdictions and a multitude of subjective views on content; Bitcoin as a system does not recognize any of them.”
Another critic wrote:
“Nack —This change is motivated on outside factors and interpretation of the data (legal and political) and not on how the software functions.”
If adopted, the BIP would temporarily limit Taproot control blocks to 257 bytes, restrict undefined witness versions, and disallow certain script operations. These rules, the draft says, are designed to be simple enough for rapid deployment if “illegal data appears in the chain before the new rules activate”.
Opponents argue the proposal contradicts Bitcoin’s permissionless ethos by imposing consensus-level data restrictions. The document, however, defends the measure as necessary “protocol maintenance,” not censorship, stating that Bitcoin “is money, not speech”.
If activated proactively, Dathon Ohm’s BIP would begin at block height 934,864 (expected Feb. 1, 2026) and expire at block 987,424 (around Feb. 1, 2027). In a crisis scenario, it could also be triggered reactively to invalidate any block containing unlawful data.
FAQ
- What is this new BIP?
The BIP is a proposal for a temporary soft fork limiting arbitrary data attached to bitcoin transactions. - Why was the BIP proposed?
It aims to prevent what it calls illegal or harmful data from being stored on the blockchain after Bitcoin Core v30 removed OP_RETURN limits. - How long would the BIP’s soft fork last?
The rules would expire after roughly one year, ending around February 2027. - Why is BIP controversial?
Critics see it as potential censorship, while supporters view it as a safety measure to protect node operators and Bitcoin’s reputation.
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