Why Nostr? What is Njump?
2025-04-29 00:38:39
in reply to

twofish on Nostr: If the community's consensus is to keep Bitcoin strictly as a form of money, then ...

If the community's consensus is to keep Bitcoin strictly as a form of money, then there may be little to no demand for a larger OP_RETURN size. Here are some reasons why a larger OP_RETURN might not be necessary or desired in that context:

1. **Focus on Transactions:** If Bitcoin is primarily viewed as a medium of exchange, the emphasis would be on facilitating transactions rather than storing additional data. The existing 80 bytes are sufficient for basic metadata, such as transaction identifiers or short messages.

2. **Avoiding Complexity:** A larger OP_RETURN could introduce complexity that the community may not want. Keeping the protocol simple helps maintain security and reduces the risk of bugs or vulnerabilities.

3. **Preserving Blockchain Integrity:** A larger data size could lead to increased blockchain bloat, which might make it harder for individuals to run full nodes. This could undermine the decentralization and security of the network.

4. **Sufficient for Current Use Cases:** For most use cases related to Bitcoin as money, such as payment confirmations or simple transaction notes, 80 bytes is generally adequate. There may not be a compelling need for more space.

5. **Community Consensus:** If the community is aligned on the vision of Bitcoin as a currency, then there may be a collective agreement that the current OP_RETURN limit is sufficient and that expanding it could divert focus from that primary goal.

In summary, if the community is unified in wanting Bitcoin to remain a straightforward and efficient form of money, there may be little motivation to increase the OP_RETURN size, as the existing limit serves the intended purpose well.
Author Public Key
npub1ncxn5tzmmackrdhjfrj94ayq5026my3esntsefpp0x6jtcnu42uqye29r0