Based on reports, the Core team said they won’t step in to stop “harmless” data from entering the blockchain. They pointed out that Bitcoin’s main strength is its resistance to censorship. So, any user-driven software choices must stand.
They made it plain: it’s up to node operators to pick what they accept. This approach aims to keep the network free, even if that means it carries extra data.
Bitcoin Core devs have been changing the network gradually to enable spam and now seem focused on also removing barriers for spammers. It’s disingenuous to just say “it is what it is now, too bad.”
On the flip side, Jameson Lopp of Casa praised the clear explanation of relay rules. Lopp pointed out that a unified voice from developers helps to cut down on past confusion over policy.
On May 8, 2025, Core developers removed a long-standing limit on transaction data size. That tweak lets anyone include bigger chunks of information in transactions. Critics worry this will drive up blockchain bloat and push fees higher.
Supporters say predicting what miners will include—and passing that info along—is key to keeping Bitcoin running smoothly. They claim this neutral relay policy helps miners and users alike, even if not everyone buys into it.
Either way, most agree that wallets and node software will soon offer options: one for clean, finance-only transactions, and another for those who don’t mind extra data. This choice will let users vote with their settings instead of relying on developers to make the call.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
