The release of Bitcoin Core v30 has sent shockwaves through the crypto community, dividing developers and miners over one of the most controversial updates in recent years. While the new version improves performance, mining interaction, and fee rate calculations, its most debated feature is the drastic expansion of the OP_RETURN data limit from 80 bytes to 100,000 bytes — a change that could transform how Bitcoin is used beyond finance.
The Bitcoin Core team officially announced that all previous versions are now considered “final” and will no longer receive updates. This move consolidates focus on v30 but also fuels skepticism among long-time contributors who question whether this update prioritizes innovation over Bitcoin’s foundational minimalism.
The increase in OP_RETURN capacity allows users to store far larger amounts of non-financial data on the blockchain — from decentralized applications to NFTs and smart contracts. While developers like Alex Bergeron of Ark Labs view this as a step toward “making Bitcoin more like Ethereum, only better,” others warn it opens the door to network abuse, illegal data storage, and inflated transaction fees. Users can still manually restrict the data limit by setting the -datacarriersize parameter, but critics argue that few will do so.
The debate began intensifying in April when Bitcoin developer Peter Todd proposed removing the existing OP_RETURN limit entirely. Todd, known for his early work on Bitcoin (even profiled by HBO as one of its key creators), argued that unrestricted data use would boost innovation and make the blockchain more versatile. However, opponents like Nick Szabo and Luke Dashjr voiced strong resistance. Szabo cautioned users not to upgrade to Core v30, recommending a temporary switch to Bitcoin Knots, a rival client offering stricter content filters.
As a result, Bitcoin Core’s market share among nodes dropped from over 88% to roughly 78%, while Bitcoin Knots gained ground, now exceeding 21% of the network, according to BitRef data. Critics like the pseudonymous developer Ox HaK called the update “a mistake,” claiming it undermines Bitcoin’s minimalist ethos: “Removing OP_RETURN limits paves the way for endless junk data, signatures, and fee spikes that hurt long-term users.”
Supporters, however, argue that the update represents evolution, not erosion. By lifting restrictions, Bitcoin could become a foundation for more advanced decentralized applications, competing more directly with smart contract platforms. They emphasize that miners retain economic incentives to decide which transactions to include, ensuring that market forces — not developers — govern blockchain activity.
Still, concerns about legal liability remain. By enabling large-scale data embedding, operators of full archival nodes could unintentionally host prohibited or unlawful content, with no way to delete it without shutting down their nodes. Nick Szabo highlighted this as a fundamental governance flaw, noting that “once stored, illegal content cannot be removed without risking a full chain split.”
Some in the community, including Luke Dashjr, even suggest that a hard fork may become the only viable path to restore restrictions if misuse escalates. Meanwhile, broader discussions continue around Bitcoin’s resilience to quantum threats, showing that the network faces both technological and ethical crossroads.
Conclusion:
The release of Bitcoin Core v30 reflects a deep philosophical divide within the crypto ecosystem. While one side envisions a more open, programmable Bitcoin network, the other defends the purity and simplicity that made it the world’s most trusted decentralized currency. As adoption of v30 unfolds, the industry will soon discover whether this bold move was a breakthrough — or a breach of Bitcoin’s principles.
