Bitcoin Core developers have once again drawn attention to changes in the relay transaction policy, which have sparked debates and concerns within the community.
Bitcoin Core Developers' Plans
On June 7, 2025, Bitcoin Core developers published a statement on their official account on X. The group of 31 contributors explained plans to allow individual nodes more freedom in choosing which transactions to relay. This shift would remove previous strict guidelines and support broader use cases. A central issue in the debate is the OP_RETURN function, which lets users attach data to transactions. The new proposal suggests increasing the byte limit from 80 to 160 to support projects like BitVM. However, opinions on this direction are divided.
Criticism and Community Concerns
Following the statement, notable figures within the Bitcoin space have pushed back strongly. On June 8, 2025, Samson Mow posted on X, questioning why Bitcoin Core insists on altering the OP_RETURN policy without clear demand. He criticized the developers for their misplaced priorities and asked whether they had more pressing work to focus on. Luke Dashjr, a Bitcoin Core contributor, has also voiced worries, pointing out risks to the network’s long-term health. In response to the new policy, Mow said the decision feels premature and seems to cater to untested projects.
Long-term Implications for the Bitcoin Network
There are growing fears that this policy shift could hurt Bitcoin in the long run. Some worry it may centralize power if large nodes or mining pools start setting their standards for relaying transactions, which goes against the principle of decentralization. A user known as Zatoichi42 on X warned that this might weaken Bitcoin’s resilience. It is essential to add that more than 60 million inscriptions have added extra weight to the blockchain since 2023. If more data-heavy transactions become common under the new relay rules, Bitcoin could face serious congestion.
The next few months will reveal whether this policy will withstand community backlash or require further adjustments. Amid the backlash, the price of Bitcoin dropped from its recent high and is currently trading at $105,766.33.
