Bitcoin Core Relay Policy Sparks Community Outcry Over OP_RETURN Changes

The Bitcoin Core relay policy is once again under fire, drawing sharp criticism from developers and longtime supporters.

A recent statement from Bitcoin Core has stirred intense debate.

Concerns over network health, developer direction, and the growing impact of non-financial uses on the blockchain are present.

As tensions flare, the community is split on whether the proposed policy changes are a step forward or a serious misstep.

Bitcoin Core Developers Push for New Relay Rules

On June 7, 2025, Bitcoin Core developers published a statement on X through their official account.

The group of 31 contributors explained plans to allow individual nodes more freedom in choosing which transactions to relay.

This shift would remove previous strict guidelines and support broader use cases.

A central issue in the debate is the OP_RETURN function, which lets users attach data to transactions.

Historically capped at 80 bytes, OP_RETURN has been used for inscriptions and other data-heavy actions that some argue may slow down the network.

The new proposal suggests increasing the byte limit to 160 to support projects like BitVM. However, not everyone agrees with the direction.

Some see the May 8, 2025, network upgrade, which removed previous data limits, as the start of this broader change.

While it opened the door for more innovation, critics believe it could steer Bitcoin away from its original financial purpose.

Meanwhile, a new report showed that daily transactions reached 620,000 on May 5, intensifying concerns over congestion and bloat.

Some community members say the change feels rushed and lacks proper communication.

Backlash from Developers and Bitcoin Veterans

Following the statement, notable figures within the Bitcoin space have pushed back strongly.

On June 8, 2025, Samson Mow posted on X, questioning why Bitcoin Core insists on altering the OP_RETURN policy without clear demand.

He criticized the developers for their misplaced priorities and asked whether they had more pressing work to focus on.

Luke Dashjr, a Bitcoin Core contributor, has also voiced worries, pointing out risks to the network’s long-term health.

In response to the new policy, Mow said the decision feels like a move to cater to untested projects such as BitVM, calling it premature.

He added that it was like putting the cart before the horse.

Others joined in, accusing Core developers of ignoring community feedback and undermining volunteers.

Growing Fears Over Bitcoin’s Stability

There are growing fears that this policy shift could hurt Bitcoin in the long run.

For example, some worry it may centralize power if large nodes or mining pools start setting their standards for relaying transactions.

For them, this would go against the principle of decentralization. A user known as Zatoichi42 on X warned that this might weaken Bitcoin’s resilience.

It is essential to add that more than 60 million inscriptions have added extra weight to the blockchain since 2023.

If more data-heavy transactions become common under the new relay rules, Bitcoin could face serious congestion.

This could lead to higher fees and slower confirmation times. While some voices believe this change is part of healthy progress, others argue it threatens Bitcoin’s foundation.

The next few months will show whether this policy will hold or if the backlash forces another shift.

During this backlash, the price of Bitcoin dropped from its recent high. It is currently trading at $105,766.33.

The post Bitcoin Core Relay Policy Sparks Community Outcry Over OP_RETURN Changes appeared first on The Coin Republic.