Bitcoin Developer Preps Emergency Code as Miners Resist Data Limit Proposal
Bitcoin developer Chris Guida has prepared an emergency code to be used as a last resort if major mining pools refuse to support BIP-110, a proposal aimed at reducing non-monetary data on the blockchain. The code is designed to update the proof-of-work change for Bitcoin Knots, a full-node implementation.
BIP-110 seeks to limit the amount of data that can be stored in transactions, specifically targeting non-monetary uses like Ordinals, which allows users to inscribe data onto satoshis. Proponents argue that such transactions bloat the blockchain and deviate from Bitcoin's primary purpose as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system.
The contingency plan has sparked debate within the community, with some miners and node operators expressing concern about the implications for network scalability and user freedom. Luke Dashjr, a prominent Bitcoin Core contributor, expressed hope that the measure will never be needed but emphasized the importance of being prepared.