Bitcoin Core’s OP_RETURN limit removal divides crypto community
Bitcoin Core’s reportedly planned removal of the long-standing OP_RETURN limit has sparked sharp division across the ecosystem.
The upcoming release will, by default, lift the 80-byte ceiling that previously restricted transaction-embedded data, positioning the change as a modernization of policy in response to shifting network practices.
OP_RETURN
Originally introduced as a soft deterrent, OP_RETURN allowed users to embed small, provably unspendable data without bloating the unspent transaction output (UTXO) set. The limit aimed to prevent abuse while enabling legitimate use cases such as timestamping or cryptographic commitments.
Yet the cap has increasingly proved ineffective. Developers, including Greg “instagibbs” Sanders, argued…
