Bitcoin Core v30 Upgrade Sparks Heated Debate Within Community

The upcoming Bitcoin Core v30 upgrade has re-ignited old tensions within the community. The upgrade is expected to remove the 80-byte limit on OP_RETURN, allowing users to embed arbitrary data. This change has led to a deep disagreement about whether Bitcoin's network should be open to financial tools or broader use cases. At the heart of the debate is the question of whether the network should be fee-driven or serve a specific purpose.

Critics of the upgrade warn that removing the limitation could lead to spam and resource consumption. According to this view, larger OP_RETURNs could crowd out payments and increase the burden on nodes. In contrast, Bitcoin Core developers state that the change creates a decentralized market for block space and is not stricter than existing relay rules. For them, v30 is about letting the transaction fee market decide and keeping Bitcoin's rules neutral and transparent.

This discussion has led to the rise of alternative clients such as Bitcoin Knots. Bitcoin Knots is designed to block non-financial data by applying stricter policies. This situation has led some parties to accuse Bitcoin Core developers of bowing to external influences, such as layer-2 projects. Discussions are shaped around the independence and future purpose of Bitcoin. Developers emphasize that decisions are made openly and that they do not bow to external influences. This upgrade forces the community to reconsider Bitcoin's neutrality, independence, and future purpose. After the upgrade, how node operators, miners, and businesses will react to this change will significantly affect the future of Bitcoin.