The Bitcoin developer community is facing one of its most contentious debates in years following the publication of Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 444 (BIP-444), a “reduced data” soft fork that includes unprecedented legal warnings for those who reject it. The proposal, linked to long-time developer Luke Dashjr and introduced by contributor dathonohm, aims to restrict data storage on-chain but has triggered widespread backlash for its aggressive tone and provisions allowing retroactive blockchain reorganization to erase “troublesome content.”
about Bitcoin BIP-444 Proposal Sparks Legal Warning BacklashBitMEX Research
0 in Finance and 0 in Crypto last weekBitcoin’s BIP-444 Sparks Governance Crisis Over Data Limits
Bitcoin faces a critical governance battle as developer Luke Dashjr proposes BIP-444 to reverse recent data capacity expansions. The proposal aims to protect users from legal exposure but has sparked fierce debate about Bitcoin’s core principles. This conflict could lead to Bitcoin’s first major consensus change since 2021’s Taproot upgrade, testing the cryptocurrency’s foundational values of neutrality and decentralization.
about Bitcoin's BIP-444 Sparks Governance Crisis Over Data LimitsBitcoin Core v30 Sparks Debate Over OP_RETURN Data Expansion
Bitcoin Core’s latest v30.0 update has ignited fierce debate within the cryptocurrency community by dramatically expanding data storage capabilities. The controversial change increases OP_RETURN limits from 80 bytes to 100,000 bytes, enabling richer on-chain experimentation. However, critics warn this could accelerate blockchain bloat and fee pressure while supporters hail it as a breakthrough for uncensorable data storage.
about Bitcoin Core v30 Sparks Debate Over OP_RETURN Data ExpansionBRC-20 Tokens Strain Bitcoin Nodes More Than Ordinal Images
BitMEX Research’s comprehensive study analyzed the impact of BRC-20 tokens and Ordinal images on Bitcoin node performance over nearly three years. While both use approximately 30GB of storage, BRC-20 tokens account for 92.5 million transactions compared to Ordinals’ 2.7 million. The key finding shows BRC-20 transactions strain nodes more significantly by expanding the UTXO set from 84 million to 169 million between 2022-2025, creating challenges especially for pruned nodes. Surprisingly, large Ordinal images stored in Taproot’s non-executed witness space actually showed potential verification speed improvements of about 11%, though researchers caution this doesn’t make them beneficial overall due to blockspace consumption concerns. The study emphasizes that internet speed and hardware variations require further testing for conclusive results.
about BRC-20 Tokens Strain Bitcoin Nodes More Than Ordinal ImagesPhishing Scam Targets $8B Bitcoin from Mt. Gox Hack
Hackers have launched a phishing scam targeting a Bitcoin address containing over $8 billion in BTC stolen from the collapsed Mt. Gox exchange. The scammers used an OP_RETURN transaction to send a message pointing to a fraudulent Saloman Brothers website, which claims the wallet is ‘lost or abandoned’ and requests personal details. BitMEX Research flagged the scam, warning that the site is illegitimate. The targeted address received 79,956 BTC in 2011 from Mt. Gox, which lost 850,000 BTC in total. While creditors have been partially compensated, many stolen coins remain untouched in dormant wallets like this one.
about Phishing Scam Targets $8B Bitcoin from Mt. Gox HackScam Targets Dormant Bitcoin Wallets with Fake Legal Notice
Analysts at BitMEX Research have exposed a scam exploiting long-dormant Bitcoin wallets, especially those from 2011. The fraudsters inject misleading messages via OP_Return outputs, directing victims to a fake website impersonating Salomon Brothers. The site claims the wallet is ‘abandoned’ and demands proof of ownership via private key signatures or personal documentation. BitMEX warns the site has no legitimate ties to Salomon Brothers and is likely a social engineering ploy. The ‘1Feex’ wallet, holding 80,000 BTC from the Mt. Gox hack, was a prime target. Community members advise moving a small amount of BTC to prove ownership instead of engaging with the scam. Crypto fraud is on the rise, with $2.1 billion stolen in H1 2025 alone.
about Scam Targets Dormant Bitcoin Wallets with Fake Legal NoticeElon Musk Launches XChat with Bitcoin-Style Encryption
Elon Musk announced XChat, a revamped messaging system for X (formerly Twitter), featuring end-to-end encryption, vanishing messages, and support for file sharing and audio/video calls. Musk described the encryption as ‘Bitcoin-style,’ sparking debate among crypto experts over its technical accuracy. The move is part of Musk’s broader strategy to expand X into financial services, with plans for X Money, a digital wallet service, later this year. While some developers criticized the encryption claims, others speculated it might refer to Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer design or Elliptic Curve Cryptography. XChat is now in beta for premium subscribers, positioning itself as a competitor to WhatsApp and Signal.
about Elon Musk Launches XChat with Bitcoin-Style EncryptionNew Evidence Links Jack Dorsey to Bitcoin Creator Theory
New evidence has emerged suggesting a connection between Jack Dorsey and Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Seán Murray, a financial news editor, highlights various coincidences, including significant dates and Dorsey’s past, while critics argue the evidence lacks definitive proof. Dorsey has previously denied being Nakamoto, and skepticism remains prevalent in the crypto community regarding such claims.
about New Evidence Links Jack Dorsey to Bitcoin Creator Theory