A new proposal in Bitcoin Core suggests removing the OP_Return policy limit. This rule restricts the size of data users can embed in transactions. It’s not a rule miners must follow, but it does affect how transactions are relayed across the network. If removed, more types of transactions could pass through mempools. Supporters argue this change improves transaction fee accuracy and speeds up block confirmations. It’s about making node behavior better match mining activity.
Critics argue this could open the door to more spam. They believe the limit helps Bitcoin stay focused on financial use. Removing it may flood the network with data-heavy, non-financial transactions. But it’s already happening in other forms. And Bitcoin Core doesn’t block mined transactions, even ones that break this relay rule. This makes the limit more of a filter than a wall.
Miners made over $660M from inscriptions
Ordinals flipped the script in 2023. Instead of OP_Return, users stored images using Taproot’s input scripts. This method avoids the OP_Return rule entirely. It also benefits from the SegWit witness discount, making it cheaper. Millions of image inscriptions flooded the chain. And the network didn’t break. In fact, it thrived in activity and miner earnings.
Miners earned over 7,000 bitcoin, worth more than $660 million, from these transactions. That proves something simple: miners follow profit. If a transaction pays enough, they’ll include it. Whether it’s text, art, or tokens doesn’t matter. This economic reality undercuts spam arguments. It’s not the content that counts; it’s the fee attached.
Storing data on Bitcoin can be expression not spam
Spam is frequently defined by intent. Some claim storing images or data jams the network. Others claim it’s simply users expressing themselves. Many are experimenting, creating, or investing. They’re not intentionally harming the system. It’s all about personal gain or community building. That’s different from trolling or attacking.
But there are still actors who use the system to annoy or clog it. When that happens, it is spam. But the dividing line isn’t always certain. Abolishing the OP_Return limitation won’t inconvenience serious players or rogue ones. The issue now is how the network reacts. Bitcoin has always changed, and this argument is just the next phase.
