Bitcoin Core reportedly planned to remove the long-standing OP_Return restrictions.
In future releases, by default, we will lift up the 80-byte ceiling that previously restricted transaction-embedded data, and place changes as policy modernizations in response to network practice shifts.
op_return
Originally introduced as a soft deterrent, OP_Return allowed users to embed small, unrecommended data without inflated the untouched transaction output (UTXO) set. The restrictions aim to prevent abuse while enabling legitimate use cases such as timestamps and encryption commitments.
However, caps have proven to be increasingly ineffective. Developers, including Greg “Instagibbs” Sanders, alleged that the decided parties bypassed the restrictions through opaque alternatives that undermine the health of the network.
In an official statement, Sanders said “large inscriptions are happening regardless,” adding that the existing ceilings have only shifted these activities into more harmful forms.
Bitcoin Core policy shifts remove what was seen internally as an outdated and counterproductive rule. Requests #32359 and #32406 formalized the changes, the latter also criticised the “-datacarrierize” parameter.
These movements more closely coordinate the behavior of the core, in the way that the implementation of miners and other nodes already works. Unlike consensus rules that manage what is contained in a block, standardity rules such as the OP_Return cap primarily determine how transactions are relayed across a peer-to-peer network.
op_return restriction removed
Therefore, removing the ceiling does not enforce consensus and re-adjust the policy to the actual conditions.
Nevertheless, the criticism was vocal. Some notable figures see this decision as undermining the minimalist spirit of Bitcoin. Luke Daschul, the maintainer of Bitcoin Knot, an increasingly popular alternative client with almost 5% nodes, described the deletion as “complete madness.”
Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3 and outspoken Bitcoin advocate, suggested that operators who want to refuse changes can do so by running knots or staying on older versions of Bitcoin Core.
Maintaining stricter relay policies with each MOW is essential to maintaining Bitcoin’s role as a global censor-resistant currency network.
However, Mow practically commented that there are benefits to removing limits.
“Remove caps. Align default policies with actual network practices, minimizing incentives for harmful workarounds and simplifying relay paths.
Option 3 was widely won, although perhaps not unanimous. The dissenting party is free to modify the software, implement stricter policies, or propose new resource limitations if empirical harm occurs. ”
Supporters believe that policy rules reflect miners’ behavior and should avoid pushing users into what Mow calls “harmful workarounds.”
They argue that the unidentified fear of spam is exaggerated as the block is still affected by 4 million heavy units, dust restrictions and other constraints.
Removing any barriers will make relay and rate estimates more predictable and promote cleaner data use by integrating the inscriptions, rather than misuse the spendable script path, incorporating it into unproven OP_return output.
op_return vs op_cat
The timing of the OP_Return policy shift coincides with increasing momentum for more ambitious protocol upgrades. OP_CAT, a one-time faulty OPCODE assigned to OP_SUCCESS126 on BIP-347, has moved from meme status to serious consideration.
Supported by developers and industry research, OP_CAT enables contracts and allows for conditional spending and advanced scripting without compromising the Bitcoin core ruleset.
The Galaxy Digital research team deployed OP_CAT and OP_CTV as simple enhancements to Defi applications such as bridges and vaults. With ongoing discussions from Activation Paths, the trajectory of OP_CAT suggests that Bitcoin’s programmerity could soon expand even further.
Together, the changes show deeper tensions over Bitcoin’s identity.
Supporters of more tolerant data policy view evolution as practical, reflecting the reality of use and miners’ preferences.
Critics argue that there is a risk of opening the door of on-chain mess that can dilute Bitcoin’s financial purity and degrade performance over time. Bitcoin’s decentralized governance ensures that a single pass is not challenged.
Node operators retain the ability to enforce stricter standards through alternative implementations such as Bitcoin Knots, but developers are cautious about adjusting consensus levels without clear support.
The Op_return limit indicates a policy readjustment rather than a consensus overhaul. However, as programmability, scalability, and philosophical priorities converge in the new stage of discussion, they will supply a wider discussion that can shape the direction of Bitcoin towards 2026.
Bitcoin prices are stable at around $94,300 as the removal of the OP_Return cap is nearing realisation.
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