Upcoming Bitcoin OP_RETURN change sparks community debate

Conflict is intensifying within the Bitcoin community over a planned change in the upcoming Bitcoin Core v30 release, scheduled for October, Cointelegraph reports. The update is set to remove the 80-byte limit on the OP_RETURN feature, which allows users to attach arbitrary data to Bitcoin transactions. Critics of the move warn that eliminating the limit could lead to a flood of spam and an increased risk of resource depletion. They argue that a rise in non-monetary transactions would interfere with legitimate payments and increase the burden on network nodes. Opponents also point to the risk that illegal material, such as child sexual abuse material, could be permanently recorded on the blockchain.