Bitcoin Core Fork Proposed to Address OP_RETURN Policy Dispute

According to PANews, Samson Mow, CEO of Bitcoin technology company JAN3, recently suggested forking the Bitcoin Core code to resolve the ongoing community division over the OP_RETURN policy. Mow proposed this solution during a podcast, addressing the issue of 'misaligned incentives' among developers. He recommended creating a fork based on the current version and maintaining the new software through an anonymous developer funding model. Mow emphasized that this approach is optimal due to the difficulty of implementing changes within the current structure. He highlighted the need for a more robust governance framework for the new fork to prevent developers from participating in projects solely for personal reputation. The Bitcoin Core development team has recently planned to remove the OP_RETURN field restriction, allowing more non-monetary data to be recorded on the blockchain. This has led to a surge in the use of the Bitcoin Knots node software, which now accounts for 8.6% of public nodes. Mow has previously called for a boycott of 'malicious' core developers, advocating for their exclusion from industry conferences and the cessation of financial support. Analysts note that this technical dispute underscores a fundamental division within the Bitcoin community regarding the blockchain's functional purpose.