Key Takeaways
- Bigger Data, Bigger Debate: Bitcoin Core 30 will remove the 80-byte OP_RETURN limit, permitting 4MB of arbitrary data per output starting October 30.
- Community Divide: Proponents call it progress; purists argue it strays from Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer cash vision by enabling blockchain “data storage.”
- Behind the Change: Core devs say it reduces harmful Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) bloat and centralization, but critics claim it bypasses consensus.
- Configurable—For Now: Users can manually restore the old limit, but future versions may eliminate the option entirely.
The End of Bitcoin’s Data “Diet”
For some time, Bitcoin’s OP_RETURN function enabled users to add short messages to transactions (like writing on a Post-It). In October, that Post-it turns into a billboard. Bitcoin Core 30 will allow 4MB of data per output, a 50,000x jump from the current 80-byte limit.
This formalizes that which miners already turned a blind eye to (thanks to Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens), but also creates a philosophical battle: Is Bitcoin progressing or betraying its roots?
Core developer GLoria Zhao (@glozow on X) posted on GitHub a writeup for the #32406 merge decision:
Why Core Devs Pushed for Change
1. Fighting Dirty Data
Before Ordinals, users skirted OP_RETURN limits with “ugly” methods like fake Unspent Transaction Outputs (UTXOs), permanently bloating Bitcoin’s memory. Gloria thinks this cleans up the mess. By allowing structured data storage, the update discourages workarounds that strain nodes.
2. Decentralization vs. Reality
Miners already accept oversized data via private channels, creating a “black market” that favors whales. Zhao notes that “Public limits stricter than miner policies hurt censorship resistance.” The change aligns rules with on-chain behavior.
3. Future-Proofing
From legal contracts to AI training sets, larger OP_RETURNs could unlock Bitcoin as a timestamping service, a use case Satoshi once hinted at.
The Backlash: “This Isn’t Bitcoin”
Critics blast the update as a slippery slope:
- “It turns Bitcoin into Filecoin,” fumes pseudonymous dev Bitcoin Mechanic. “Blocks will fill with cat JPEGs, not payments.”
- No True Consensus? Some argue the decision was rushed. “Core devs aren’t kings,” tweeted Juan David Diaz, a software engineer.
- Node Burden: Storing 4MB outputs could price out hobbyist node operators, centralizing validation.
Now, think that you can still set your node to reject big data, but good luck staying in sync.
What to Spect?
The October rollout may face forks from disgruntled traditionalists. Meanwhile, exchanges and wallets must adapt to heavier transactions.
Will Bitcoin’s blockchain become a Swiss Army knife, or lose focus as “digital gold”? The Bitcoin community is going through a philosophical questioning amid the good performance and adoption of the #1 cryptocurrency.
For more Bitcoin-related news, read our Bitcoin Weekly Price Prediction: BTC Pierces above 21-day SMA Hurdle amid Mixed On-Chain Signals
