In a move that has ignited a global dialogue among cryptocurrency enthusiasts, a unified statement from 31 Bitcoin core developers has been released. The statement proposes a laissez-faire approach to the use of the Bitcoin network, particularly in light of ongoing debates about non-financial applications.
As stated in the document, which was published on the Bitcoin Core website on June 6th, “This is not endorsing or condoning non-financial data usage, but recognizing that as a censorship-resistant system, Bitcoin can and will be employed for use cases that not everyone supports.”
The developers stressed that Bitcoin is a user-defined network and that its core contributors are not in a position to dictate the desired software or policies. This comes amidst ongoing debates regarding spam inscriptions on the Bitcoin network.
“The network’s primary defense against coercion is the freedom to run any software,” they added. While many Bitcoin enthusiasts expressed their support for the update with an “ACK” comment, others disagreed.
JAN3 CEO Samson Mow, for example, criticized the letter’s tone on the same day, stating, “It’s disingenuous to imply ‘it is what it is now, too bad.'”
On May 8th, the Bitcoin Core developers decided to remove a long-standing limit on transaction data in a network upgrade, allowing for larger data segments, a move perceived by some as opening the gate to non-financial applications.
Despite the criticism, Casa founder Jameson Lopp defended the letter, stating, “Core Devs are essentially saying we can’t force anyone to run code they don’t like; this is our perspective on relay policy and network health.”
The developers concluded in the letter that it is in the best interest of Bitcoin and its users to have a pragmatic understanding of what the next block will contain, rather than trying to intervene between consenting transaction creators and miners to discourage largely harmless activities.
