Bitcoin Core v30: Когда иновации становятся спорными Translation: Bitcoin Core v30: When Innovations Become Controversial

The Bitcoin Core team has released version v30 of its client, which has sparked mixed reactions within the community.

All prior versions of the software are now considered «final» and will no longer receive updates.

Bitcoin Core v30 features bug fixes, adjustments to base fee rates, and enhancements to performance and mining interaction. However, the most significant change is the increase of the data transmission limit in the OP_RETURN field from 80 to 100,000 bytes. This change will greatly expand the volume of non-financial transactions on the network. Users can still manually set their own limits by specifying the value of the -datacarriersize function.

Debates regarding the data limit in OP_RETURN intensified at the end of April. Bitcoin developer Pieter Wuille, referred to in an HBO documentary as the creator of Bitcoin, proposed to remove the existing limit.

This proposal has caused a division within the community. Opponents argue that eliminating the limit encourages the use of the network for non-financial transactions, which could potentially overload the blockchain. They also pointed out the risk of illegal content dissemination, which node operators could inadvertently host, exposing them to legal repercussions.

Critics highlight that users will still find alternative methods, while miners have both the ability and incentives to include such operations in blocks.

In June, developers announced the removal of the limit in Bitcoin Core v30. Some in the community speculated that this decision could result in a decline in the client’s market share in favor of the competing Bitcoin Knots, which allows for stricter filtering.

At that time, Bitcoin Core was used by over 88% of nodes. According to data from BitRef, this figure dropped to about 78%, while Knots’ share exceeded 21%.

Proponents of lifting the OP_RETURN limit believe this will enable the deployment of more complex decentralized applications on the network. According to Alex Bergeron from Ark Labs, he intends to fully utilize the additional space to “make Bitcoin more like Ethereum, only better.”

“Bitcoin Core v30 is a mistake. The removal of restrictions in OP_RETURN paves the way for an endless influx of unnecessary data, signatures, and fee spikes that affect regular users. The strength of Bitcoin lies in its minimalism: it doesn’t turn the base layer into a testing ground for experiments,” wrote one critic under the alias Ox HaK.

Renowned cryptographer Nick Szabo strongly advised against upgrading to Core v30, suggesting a temporary switch to Knots. He acknowledged that the latter is not without significant flaws, thus allowing for a limited-time use of the main competitor to Core.

In earlier comments, Szabo noted that applications already have ways to place arbitrary data in the Bitcoin blockchain, but lifting the OP_RETURN limit sends a signal for increased volume. He emphasized that this decision prevents archival node operators from removing illegal content without ceasing operations, which could expose them to criminal liability.

One of the staunch opponents of removing data publication restrictions, Bitcoin developer Luke Dash Jr., suggested that the only feasible option to eliminate unwanted content may be a hard fork.

It is worth mentioning that the Bitcoin community has intensified discussions regarding potential measures to protect the network from a possible quantum threat.