10-6-2025 – The Bitcoin Core development team has unveiled plans for its forthcoming Core 30 release, slated for October, which promises to reshape the network’s operational framework. The update, a triumph for reformist voices spearheaded by Antoine Poinsot, will dramatically expand the OP_RETURN data carrier threshold from a modest 80 bytes to an expansive 4MB. This bold adjustment has sparked fervent discussion, pitting innovators against traditionalists, with figures like Luke Dashjr advocating for restraint in preserving Bitcoin’s foundational ethos.
The decision, while divisive, reflects a delicate balance. Node operators will retain the flexibility to dial back to more restrictive data limits, though experts predict that most will embrace the default configuration. Critics warn that this pivot risks diluting Bitcoin’s core purpose as a streamlined value transfer system, potentially transforming the blockchain into a sprawling repository for data storage. Reformists, however, champion the change as a pragmatic step to bolster Bitcoin’s versatility, arguing that the expanded capacity will unlock new possibilities without compromising the network’s integrity.
Crucially, the update leaves Bitcoin’s transaction verification process untouched, ensuring continuity in its fundamental mechanics.
