Bitcoin Core to Remove OP_RETURN Limit in Next Upgrade

Bitcoin Core builders have confirmed that the following software program launch will elevate the long-standing 80-byte restriction on OP_RETURN transaction outputs.

The choice was met with concern within the crypto area as customers expressed dissatisfaction with the transfer.

OP_RETURN Has Outlived Its Objective

The knowledge was relayed in a Could 5 GitHub announcement by Bitcoin developer Gregory Sanders, which learn:

“Bitcoin Core’s subsequent launch will, by default, relay and mine transactions whose OP_RETURN outputs exceed 80 bytes and permit any variety of these outputs.”

Sanders defined that the 80-byte restrict was initially a “mild sign that block area must be used sparingly for non-payment proof of publication information,” however that it has now outlived its usefulness.

OP_RETURN is a kind of Bitcoin transaction output that allows small quantities of knowledge to be saved on the blockchain. In contrast to common outputs, they’re unspendable and subsequently don’t contribute to unspent transaction outputs (UTXOs).

Builders famous that many non-public mining accelerators already ignore the restrict, and customers usually discover workarounds. As a substitute of stopping misuse, they’ve began embedding information in additional advanced methods, reminiscent of crafting pretend output public keys or utilizing spendable scripts to cover information. This makes the community more durable to handle and fewer environment friendly.

Some proposed introducing blacklists to cease these methods, however the builders rejected that concept. They argued that blacklists are unreliable, laborious to keep up, and will even result in harmless individuals dropping funds.

Sanders additionally clarified that eradicating the restriction doesn’t weaken Bitcoin’s safety. Guidelines just like the 4 million weight unit block restrict and different safeguards stay in place. Nonetheless, the change brings some enhancements, reminiscent of a cleaner UTXO set and extra constant habits throughout the community.

He defined that builders thought of three choices earlier than reaching a choice: conserving the cap, elevating it, or eradicating it fully. In response to him, the third choice obtained “broad, although not unanimous help.”

Neighborhood Debate

The announcement has began a debate within the crypto neighborhood. Bitcoin Knots maintainer Luke Dashjr described the elimination as “utter madness.” Bitcoiner Samson Mow said on X on Could 5 that customers “can refuse to improve and keep on 29.0 or run one other implementation,” referring to Knots.

Critics additionally argued that the proposal was launched and not using a correct decision-making course of. “I feel one factor is fairly clear: there is no such thing as a consensus in the intervening time on this OP_RETURN difficulty,” stated Ten31 Fund managing companion Marty Bent.

In the meantime, Sanders has defended the elimination of the cap as aligned with Bitcoin’s ethos of  “minimal and clear guidelines.”

Regardless of these assurances, the neighborhood nonetheless doesn’t agree. “This marks a basic shift within the route of Bitcoin,” one commenter warned on GitHub. “That is the biggest mistake Core could make at this juncture,” one other added.