The Bitcoin community is facing a potential split as Ordinals leader Leonidas threatens to fork Bitcoin Core over censorship concerns. Here's the lowdown.
Hold on to your hats, folks! The Bitcoin world is getting a little spicy. With the Bitcoin Core v30 update on the horizon, tensions are rising between developers and the Ordinals community. The question? Whether Bitcoin should prioritize its original monetary function or embrace new uses like NFTs and memecoins. Buckle up, because this could get interesting.
The Ordinals Leader Draws a Line in the Sand
Leonidas, a major player in the Bitcoin Ordinals movement and host of The Ordinal Show, isn't mincing words. He's threatened to back an alternative version of Bitcoin Core if the core developers tighten default relay policies in a way that hurts Ordinals and Runes transactions. In an open letter, Leonidas warned that any attempt to censor these transactions would be met with "decisive action." He claims the "$DOG Army" would fund an open-source fork of Bitcoin Core that strips out restrictive policy rules, ensuring Bitcoin remains censorship-resistant.
What's the Beef with Bitcoin Core?
The heart of the matter is the upcoming Bitcoin Core v30 update, slated for October 2025. This update includes policy changes that widen the aperture for data-carrying transactions. Core v30 will remove the 80-byte cap on OP_RETURN payloads and relay transactions with multiple OP_RETURN outputs by default. Proponents argue this aligns policy with what miners actually include, improving fee estimation and reducing reliance on out-of-band submission. Critics, however, see it as normalizing non-monetary use of block space.
Censorship or Prudent Policy?
The debate boils down to differing philosophies about Bitcoin's purpose. Leonidas and the Ordinals community argue for base-layer neutrality, claiming their activities have contributed over $500 million in transaction fees. They view policy-based filtering as a dangerous precedent, akin to state censorship. On the other side, figures like Blockstream CEO Adam Back argue that Bitcoin should prioritize its monetary function and that "spam" has no place on the timechain. Luke Dashjr, maintainer of the Knots implementation, insists that filters aren't censorship and encourages operators who prefer stricter policy to run Knots.
A Fork in the Road?
The threat of a fork isn't just bluster. Leonidas claims to have the support of over 20 Bitcoin startups and miners controlling over 50% of the hash rate. While Bitcoin Core developers assert their goal is to make software efficient and reliable for validating transactions, they also acknowledge that a censorship-resistant system will be used for things "not everyone agrees on."
The Market Speaks
Interestingly, the market is already voting with its node software. Knots, which advocates for stricter default policies, has seen a significant increase in adoption. According to Coin.Dance, Knots accounts for just over 18% of publicly reachable nodes. This suggests a growing segment of the community favors a more restrictive approach.
So, What's Next?
As the October 2025 implementation date for Bitcoin Core v30 approaches, the tension is palpable. Will Bitcoin Core proceed with the update as planned? Will the Ordinals community follow through on its threat to fork? Only time will tell. One thing is certain: this debate highlights the ongoing evolution of Bitcoin and the diverse visions for its future.
In the meantime, maybe grab some popcorn and watch the drama unfold. After all, who doesn't love a good old-fashioned crypto showdown? Just remember, no matter which side you're on, we're all in this crazy Bitcoin experiment together!
