A prominent Bitcoin Core developer has called for Blockstream CEO Adam Back to step down following newly released documents linking Jeffrey Epstein to cryptocurrency figures. The files reveal Epstein had financial ties to Blockstream and Coinbase during their early years. The revelations have reignited longstanding tensions within Bitcoin’s development community and cast a shadow over the sector’s formative relationships.
about Bitcoin Dev Demands Blockstream CEO Resign Over Epstein LinksLuke Dashjr
1 posts last weekSzabo: Bitcoin Not Trustless, Faces Legal Attack Surface
Bitcoin pioneer Nick Szabo has challenged the cryptocurrency’s foundational “trustless” narrative, arguing that all crypto systems are merely “trust-minimized” and possess legal vulnerabilities that governments can exploit. His comments come amid a heated technical debate over limiting blockchain data storage to reduce regulatory exposure, highlighting the fundamental tension between Bitcoin’s censorship-resistant ideals and real-world legal constraints that threatens to split the community.
about Szabo: Bitcoin Not Trustless, Faces Legal Attack SurfaceBitcoin BIP-444 Proposal Sparks Legal Warning Backlash
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 BacklashBitcoin’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 Soft Fork Proposal Sparks Legal Threat Controversy
A new Bitcoin improvement proposal has ignited controversy within the cryptocurrency community. Developer Luke Dashjr’s proposal for a one-year soft fork includes language that some interpret as threatening legal action against opponents. The debate centers on whether Bitcoin should filter non-financial transactions from its blockchain, representing the latest escalation in the ongoing Bitcoin Core vs Knots ideological conflict.
about Bitcoin Soft Fork Proposal Sparks Legal Threat ControversyBitcoin 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 ExpansionBitcoin Core v30 Sparks Debate Over Data Limit Increase
Bitcoin’s upcoming Core v30 update, scheduled for October 2025, has reignited a fundamental debate about the cryptocurrency’s purpose and future direction. The controversial change to increase the OP_RETURN limit—allowing transactions to carry significantly larger amounts of non-payment data—has divided the Bitcoin community along ideological lines, pitting advocates of censorship-resistant data storage against defenders of Bitcoin’s original monetary function.
about Bitcoin Core v30 Sparks Debate Over Data Limit IncreaseBitcoin Spam Debate: Mow Proposes Mining Hardware Ban
The Bitcoin community is embroiled in a heated debate over network spam, with Jan3 CEO Samson Mow suggesting mining hardware manufacturers like Block’s Proto Mining division should refuse sales or impose markups on firms mining ‘spam’ transactions. Mow argues a 2% economic penalty would deter public miners like Marathon Digital from processing non-financial data. Meanwhile, Bitcoin Core’s decision to remove the 80-byte OP_RETURN cap in Core 30 has split opinions—supporters claim it promotes neutrality, while critics like Luke Dashjr warn it will flood the network with spam. The controversy highlights tensions over Bitcoin’s scalability and purpose as a financial system.
about Bitcoin Spam Debate: Mow Proposes Mining Hardware BanBitcoin’s Cold War: 3,000 Nodes at Risk in Core Policy Clash
Bitcoin Core’s decision to remove the 80-byte OP_RETURN relay cap has sparked a divisive policy war, with a GitHub script now targeting Bitcoin Knots nodes (13% of reachable peers) for auto-banning. The conflict centers on whether larger data payloads undermine Bitcoin’s monetary focus, with Knots gaining adoption as critics like Luke Dashjr call Core’s move ‘utter insanity.’ Unlike the block size wars, this relay policy split doesn’t require consensus changes but risks network partitioning if peer bans spread. Core’s v30 release in October will enforce the change, leaving miners and node operators to decide whether to propagate data-heavy transactions. With Knots nodes at a record 2,938 and banning tools proliferating, Bitcoin faces its first major operational divide since 2017.
about Bitcoin's Cold War: 3,000 Nodes at Risk in Core Policy ClashElon 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 EncryptionBitcoin Core Removes OP_RETURN Limit, Sparks Debate
Bitcoin Core’s upcoming release will eliminate the 80-byte OP_RETURN limit, a move developers argue aligns with current network practices and discourages harmful workarounds. While supporters like Greg Sanders and Samson Mow see this as a pragmatic update, critics such as Luke Dashjr warn it undermines Bitcoin’s minimalist ethos. The policy shift coincides with growing interest in protocol upgrades like OP_CAT, highlighting tensions around Bitcoin’s future direction as debates over programmability and scalability intensify. Despite the controversy, Bitcoin’s price remains stable at around $94,300.
about Bitcoin Core Removes OP_RETURN Limit, Sparks DebateTether Invests in Fizen to Boost Crypto Payments Globally
Tether is doubling down on real-world crypto adoption with a strategic investment in Fizen, a company specializing in self-custodial wallets and digital payment solutions. The partnership seeks to simplify stablecoin transactions—enabling users to pay via QR codes or tap-to-pay cards while maintaining full control of their funds. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized the importance of self-custody infrastructure for mainstream crypto adoption. Meanwhile, USDT adoption grew by 13% in Q1 2025, surpassing 400 million users. This follows Tether’s recent diversification into Bitcoin mining and plans for a new US-based institutional stablecoin, signaling a broader push to cement its role in crypto infrastructure.
about Tether Invests in Fizen to Boost Crypto Payments Globally