Bitcoin is known as a censorship -resistant network. Normally this characteristic is presented as one of the basic sales points. The Bitcoin DEV community is moved with a heated debate about the approaching removal of a spam filter that limits non-monetary data to 83 bytes per block. Opponents claim that it makes it possible to place child pornography on the chain, making Bitcoin illegal in most areas of law.
Summary
- “SPAM WARS” Intensification: more and more people switch from Bitcoin Core to Bitcoin knots, warning that the Bitcoin -Blockchain can be in a children’s pornography house.
- The problem with CP was raised years ago, before the streamlined plans to remove the spam filter, so the problem was then rejected.
- Proponents of the change mention new skills as the reasons to implement V30; It would open new opportunities: people can store new types of data on the chain, while opponents could use a different version of Bitcoin Core or other junction software.
Bitcoin -Kern vs. Bitcoin -Knopen
Blockchain data is checked and verified by the nodes. Each block can contain a maximum of 83 bytes for non-monetary data (for example, images). This opportunity is possible via a on_return script. Some call it a spam filter because they believe it helps the Bitcoin network (BTC) to use exactly for monetary transactions. On_return prevents the network from being flooded with random data (non-monetary data). Opponents of spam filter removal say that the change can lead to network congestion.
However, some developers argue for the removal of a spam filter, which extends the random data limit to around 2 megabytes per block. The reason for this change, cited by these developers, is the dismantling of limitations and censorship. It opens Gates for different usage scenarios such as sharing JPEG files, videos, documents, etc.
I really hate politics.
That is why I have little patience for those who try to impose traditional management models on Bitcoin.
If you don’t like anarchy, you are free to leave.
– Jameson Lopp (@lopp) 26 August 2025
A more technical excuse is that images and other non-monetary data already have a place on the Bitcoin blockchain. Such data is posted as forever wrongly transaction outputs, so that the blockchain is blown up and the transaction speed lowers. The proposal aimed at removing the random data limits was introduced earlier this year by Peter Todd.
Bitcoin Meditations series
1.
Satoshi asked Core & Knots:
My children, how does Bitcoin go for eternity?Core said: by becoming many things!
Knots said: by refusing to be something else … pic.twitter.com/fdfssmoror
– Zatoichi🌊 (@Zatoichi42) 24 August 2025
The proponents of the spam filter removal are the community behind the Bitcoin Core software, the oldest and most popular junction program. They reached consensus, so the Bitcoin Core version 30 that increases the on_return room to the entire block, is planned in October 2025. Given that most blocks are verified using Bitcoin Core software, after the October -Update, the Bitcoin network will probably receive a random network. Those who oppose the filter remover usually use Bitcoin button nodes.
A comment about whether this process was “rushed”.
If someone who has been written and merged Mempool changes in the last 4 years changes a mempool, I would say that this is par for the course.
– The original PR was discussed about 2 years ago (natural display of arguments made for 10 years …
– Gloria (@GloZow) June 9, 2025
While the debate continued to exist and many of those who used Bitcoin Core, decided to switch to Bitcoin buttons, the removal of the spam filter was approved and planned for October 2025. The proponents of the removal of the spam filter say that those who are not satisfied with an old version of the software can use or to another.
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The fallout of the debate became personal and quite aggressive. At one point, personal attacks on X made one of the most important Bitcoin Core Devs, Gloria Zhao, temporarily deleted her account. Some critics accused Bitcoin Core Devs of serving the interests of Citrea, a zero knowledge layer 2 Rollup protocol, making the use of ethereum-like functions on the Bitcoin blockchain possible. One of the Bitcoin developers, Bitcoin mechanic, claims that he was blocked on Github after criticizing the plans of Bitcoin Core.
Someone who insists on a major change in Bitcoin is affiliated with a company whose current exploit of Bitcoin was the motivation for change.
By pointing this to the Github discussion, I led me to be banned. https://t.co/vaanbybe5o pic.twitter.com/5yyxgtwati
– Mechanic #fixthefilters #300KB (@grassfedbitcoin) 28 April 2025
The reason for such a hard pushback against Peter Todd’s proposal is that Bitcoin Core is a very influential software. The moment the proposal was made, it was responsible for around 99% of all Bitcoin -Blockchain data. As the conflict continued, more than 15% of the Bitcoin Core Community chose to become Bitcoin button runners.
Illegal content
Het was Bitcoin-monteur die het debat op 31 augustus herbergde bij het plaatsen van een video van een uur op zijn YouTube-kanaal en op X. In de video beweerde hij dat de verwijdering van spamfilter “onvoorwaardelijke gevolgen” zal trekken, wat betekent dat inhoud zoals kinderpornografie kan verschijnen op de Bitcoin-blockchain na de Bitco-kern-kern-update in oktober. Bitcoin -core supporters call other block chains without spam filters as proof that child pornography will not infiltrate the blockchain.
Since the Bitcoin ledger is unchangeable and censorship resistant, this means that the illegal content will stay there forever, so that Bitcoin will make a storage of illegal content. In contrast to monetary data, whether it was involved in selling illegal things or not, is neutral, according to Bitcoin mechanic, random data yourself “turns out to be something that you simply discriminate for, depending on what it contains.”
Bitcoin mechanic admits that the “disgusting content” was already uploaded on the Bitcoin -Blockchain in 2013. It has the shape of an inscription. However, he says that the current structure enables Bitcoiners to prevent any connection with this data by not using inscriptions. The illegal content that may be uploaded after the Bitcoin Core update will not be available in a HEX form.
“Why would anyone want to store Child PR0N in the blockchain”?
Because other people store it for you, it is extremely preferable to save or host it yourself. Especially if the storage medium is wide distributed among people who are otherwise working on a morally defensible …
– Mechanic #fixthefilters #300KB (@grassfedbitcoin) 31 August 2025
The subject of Bitcoin and child pornography is not new. It was treated extensively in 2017. At that time the spam filter worked well, so alarmists had to admit that they were not right. But today we have a different problem, because the data increases per block. They say that countries and countries prefer Bitcoin to be completely banned, because running a junction would be the same as storing illegal content on your computer. From a legal point of view, this concern requires the research of experts, although morally is considered unacceptable by some in the Bitcoin community.
Core will pretend that they have not seen this video.
With Core’s changes, Bitcoin risks to be operated to store illegal material (such as CP).
That gives governments the perfect excuse to prohibit Bitcoin or to make running a junction illegal.
Core devs @GloZow –
Determine your choices whether … https://t.co/ptmgabndddw– Joyce (@Bitcoinwifeey) September 1, 2025
Such a heated battle is nothing new for the Bitcoin room, because this system is decentralized and community driven. History has already seen the collisions about block size and recording of ordinals. Because the Bitcoin Core update is on your hands, we learn how big the problem is in the coming months.
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