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ORDI and other BRC20 tokens to be eliminated? Developers vow to fix Bitcoin vulnerability next year, what is the Bitcoin community arguing about?

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ORDI and other BRC20 tokens to be eliminated? Developers vow to fix Bitcoin vulnerability next year, what is the Bitcoin community arguing about?

In recent developments within the Bitcoin community, controversy has arisen over a feature on the Bitcoin blockchain, leading to differing perspectives from developer Luke Dashjr and other community members. This discussion highlights the longstanding struggle between the traditionalists and progressives within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

An overview of Ordinals technology, ecosystem, and data

Hatred of Bitcoin Traditionalists for BRC20: Will Fix "Inscriptions" Vulnerability

Famed Bitcoin Core developer Luke Dashjr has stated that "Inscriptions" are exploiting a vulnerability in Bitcoin Core, causing a burden on the Bitcoin network.

Bitcoin Core is the primary client software used for the Bitcoin network. According to Dashjr, since 2013, Bitcoin Core has allowed users to set a data size limit for additional data in transactions using the -datacarriersize option.

He believes that "Inscriptions" bypass this limit by disguising excessive data as program code, referring to it as an abuse of the blockchain. Dashjr points out that this issue has been resolved in version v25.1 of the Bitcoin Knots client software, but remains unresolved in the upcoming Bitcoin Core v26 release. He hopes to correct this error before the release of Bitcoin Core v27 next year.

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Counterpoint: Extremist Conservatism

Differing opinions within the community diminish Dashjr's concerns, as they believe his stance is influenced by his role as a Bitcoin Maximalist, which is typically strict adherence to Bitcoin's principles.

Critics argue that the vulnerability mentioned by Dashjr is actually a client option and does not modify the core Bitcoin protocol. They emphasize that limiting transaction data size may reduce income for miners and node operators, especially those dealing with Ordinals. Furthermore, they point out the existence of other node software, indicating that Bitcoin Core's policies are not universally binding.

Strong Bitcoin advocate and BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes even used a Musk meme:

Bitcoin Culture: The Louder, the Better

This debate highlights significant cultural divisions within the Bitcoin community.

On one hand, there are purists or "extremists" like Dashjr who advocate for a conservative approach to Bitcoin's development.

On the other hand, there are more pragmatic developers who are open to exploring diverse uses of technology and adjustments.

While such debates often spark controversy, they are seen as the driving force for innovation and improvement within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Past disruptions from independent Bitcoin development communities like super testnet and Ordinals have made an impact.

The current controversy surrounding Bitcoin's "Inscriptions" feature is not merely a technical disagreement; it embodies the diversity and evolutionary nature of the Bitcoin community. As Bitcoin continues to grow and adapt, such discussions are crucial in shaping its development trajectory, reflecting the dynamic and participatory nature of open-source projects.