- Bitcoin Core developers will remove the OP_Return data size limit in the upcoming Bitcoin Core 30 upgrade.
- The decision has faced strong criticism from parts of the Bitcoin community, including developer Jimmy Song.
- Bitcoin node operators are moving in significant numbers to the Bitcoin Knots software, which maintains strict data limits.
- The debate centers on concerns regarding increased blockchain bloat and possible impacts on decentralization.
- Bitcoin Knots now accounts for around 20% of the network’s nodes, up from about 1% earlier in 2024.
Bitcoin Core developers plan to eliminate the OP_Return limit for non-monetary data on the Bitcoin blockchain in the upcoming Bitcoin Core 30 software upgrade. This change affects how much non-transactional data can be stored per transaction and has drawn strong reactions within the Bitcoin community.
Previously, the OP_Return limit capped data at 80 bytes per transaction. Bitcoin advocate and developer Jimmy Song criticized the move, telling users on X that developers are dismissing user concerns and the larger implications. He said, “The idea that spam is difficult to define, and because of this ambiguity, we shouldn’t be making any distinctions at all in the software, is a time-wasting argument from fiat politics where you pretend not to know the obvious, so the actual debate can never get off the ground — the non-monetary uses of Bitcoin are spam.” Song added that claims about spam definitions are a stalling tactic, avoiding honest discussion about the impacts of the rule change.
The proposal to drop the OP_Return limit met notable resistance in the community. Despite this, it was approved and merged, as shown on the official GitHub repository. The debate has continued for nearly six months, sparking comparisons to the 2015–2017 block size wars that led to Bitcoin’s hard fork and the creation of Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
In response, many node operators are shifting to Bitcoin Knots, a different version of Bitcoin node software that allows users to enforce strict data size limits. According to data from Coin Dance, Bitcoin Knots nodes have risen sharply and now make up about 20% of the network, compared to just 1% at the start of 2024.
Supporters of data size restrictions argue that keeping the blockchain small is necessary for decentralization. To date, the entire Bitcoin blockchain is approximately 680 gigabytes. This relatively moderate size means people without special hardware can run full nodes for as little as $300, ensuring widespread participation in network validation and helping keep power decentralized. In contrast, other blockchains that allow larger or unlimited data storage can require machines costing tens of thousands of dollars, potentially leading to increased centralization.
Higher hardware demands mean fewer people can run nodes, which could risk a small group controlling or altering consensus. The current debate over OP_Return highlights ongoing concerns in the community about network scalability, control, and the core values of Bitcoin.
✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.
Previous Articles:
- Gold Soars 38% in 2025, but Bitcoin Still Outpaces Over Time
- Ethereum DeFi Surges to $100B as Stablecoin Boom Hits $160B
- Pudgy Party: Ethereum NFT Game Rivals Fall Guys on Mobile
- Crypto Investor Turns $226K in APX Into $7M After Explosive Rally
- XRP ETF Frenzy: Analysts Predict XRP Could Hit $25 After Approval
