Controversy Surrounding Bitcoin Core’s Memory Pool Settings
A recent initiative to modify the default memory pool settings in Bitcoin Core has ignited discussions among cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Samson Mow, who heads the wallet service Jan3, disclosed that veteran Bitcoin developer Peter Todd was compensated to put together the contentious code change proposal known as PR 32359. Mow asserts that the motives behind this proposal to eliminate the data carrier limit for OP_RETURN in Bitcoin Core are more aligned with corporate agendas than genuine community input.
Defending the Proposal
In the course of the debate, Antoine Poinsot from Chaincode Labs along with Todd defended the proposal, presenting both technical and cultural reasons for removing the existing limitations. They argued that the current restrictions do not effectively deter the storage of non-financial data within the blockchain. Despite their advocacy, Todd acknowledged that the main beneficiaries of this proposed change would typically be businesses rather than the broader community.
Concerns and Allegations
Mow raised concerns regarding the integrity of the proposal, suggesting the possibility that Todd might have been indirectly funded by someone at Chaincode through a practice he described as “PR laundering.” Poinsot refuted these allegations, claiming that Mow’s comments were aimed at drawing publicity.
Current Developments
In addition, Greg Sanders, an engineer at Blockstream, mentioned that the development team behind Bitcoin Core is looking to include PR 32359 in their upcoming update. However, the clarity of the core maintainers’ intentions regarding this change remains ambiguous, leaving it uncertain whether it will actually feature in their next version.
Community Reaction
As discussions unfold, voting and participation on GitHub concerning this proposal have been halted, revealing a split among developers, with an unprecedented number of full nodes opposing the change. Simultaneously, the hashtag #FixTheFilters has emerged on social media platforms, where numerous critics are voicing their concerns that the Bitcoin Core team is prioritizing corporate interests over the fundamental principles of Bitcoin’s development.
