- The developers argue about the expansion of the function that enables messages to attach to transactions, With many, demands for innovation have to be rejected in order to preserve the financial integrity of Bitcoin.
- Cardano-Chef ChaAs usual, Rles Hoskinson switched to the debate and referred to gaps in the wallet messaging functions and data support.
The growing discussion about Bitcoins messaging skills has taken a new turn and attracted the attention of decades of the crypto industry. Cardan instructor and IOG boss Charles Hoskinson recently debated Bitcoin’s OP_Return function, a function that enables users to attach messages to transactions.
The dialog gained dynamics after criticism of the limited support of this function was loud. The discussion coincides with the preparation of the integration of Bitcoin support by the Cardano-owned wallet lace, which increases the focus on how Bitcoin wallets use non-financial transaction functions.
https://t.co/PU7h5btwlj pic.twitter.com/bQ0LE3OYP2
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) April 29, 2025
OP_RETurn, a Bitcoin function with which small data can be embedded in transactions, has become a focal point for users who research wider blockchain applications. Psiloblox pointed out that most Bitcoin walls do not actively support OP_Return, which restricts the possibilities of users to record messages next to their transactions.
Using personal examples, including an earlier request for improvements for Bitkit walls, developers “Psiloblox” pointed out missed opportunities in wallet design. He suggested adding a message field to automatically converts the user input into the hex format and thus simplifies user-friendliness.
PSILOBLOX also emphasized the possibility of improving Bitcoin transactions with QR code-cover support for OP_Return fields and referred to the Moonshine Wallet, in which similar functions have already been implemented. This advocacy has triggered discussions about whether Bitcoin wallet provider fully use the existing blockchain functions.
Expansion of the OP_Return boundaries?
At the same time, some Bitcoin developers have proposed to expand the potential of OP_Return by picking up the current data limit of 80 bytes. With the support of Antoine Poinsot from Chaincode Labs, the author Peter Todd called up to rethink this restriction. As one of the reasons for the desire for more flexibility, Todd cited years of struggle against the abuse of data storage.
Why is everyone seemingly losing their minds about modifying OP_Return, as first discussed by @Petertodd and @darosior??
Come with me on a brief journey into developer land to try to understand…
(also, please correct me if I misstate something here!)
— Rob Warren (@BikesandBitcoin) April 28, 2025
The proposal therefore claims that it is possible to increase the limit in order to take into account the modern usage trends of the blockchain without affecting the risk of spam. This could also expand Bitcoin’s possibilities beyond the payment system, although it would raise new concerns about the stability of the network and transaction efficiency.
Resistance to arbitrary expansion of data storage
Despite these efforts, there are still strong resistance within the Bitcoin developer community. Luke Dashjr, a long-standing participant on the Bitcoin core, remains critical of suggestions to expand data storage by OP_Return. Dashjr described the persistent tolerance for storing non-financial data as harmful and warned of long-term effects on the efficiency of Bitcoins Blockspace.
He expressed his frustration about what he sees as inadequate protection of the primary financial role of Bitcoin, and indicated that the network repeatedly endured “attacks” of non-transactional data spam. Despite the praise that dashjr received for the improvements of the Bitcoin interface, his public has opened up new discussions about the other APTS of cryptocurrency and the relationship between different functions and the origin of Bitcoin as a financial instrument.
This is a positive sign because more leading personalities deal with the topic, and Hoskinson is not part of the core of the Bitcoin development team. In response to the concerns of Psiloblox, which described such changes as interesting, Hoskinson supported the need to rethink the way Bitcoin wallets and infrastructure companies include non-financial features.
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