Bitcoin in Motion: Temporary Soft Fork Proposal Sparks Debate on Data Limits

The Bitcoin community is ablaze. Developers have launched an ambitious proposal aimed at curbing the abuse of arbitrary data storage on the network, and the reactions could not be more divided.

What’s at Stake

Dathon Ohm, along with other developers, presented on October 24, 2025, a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) proposing a temporary one-year soft fork—dubbed “Temporary Data Reduction Soft Fork.” The mechanism is simple but potentially transformative: drastically reducing the space available for arbitrary data attached to transactions.

The numbers are specific and calculated: OP_RETURN outputs would be limited to 83 bytes, while any output script exceeding 34 bytes would be invalidated. Additionally, the measure would block Taproot control blocks and prohibit certain script operations.

Why the Rush

The proponents’ argument is straightforward. Without restrictions, the Bitcoin blockchain could become a permanent repository for any type of content—including illegal materials. This would create a complicated situation for node operators, who could be exposed to legal or moral responsibilities simply for keeping the network running.

“Bitcoin is money, not speech,” argue the proposal’s supporters, defending it not as censorship but as a necessary maintenance of the protocol.

The Controversy Is There

Not everyone agrees. Critics see this soft fork as a dangerous precedent: if the protocol can be altered to restrict data today, what prevents future restrictions in other areas? The line between protection and censorship at the protocol level becomes dangerously thin.

The Advantage of Temporality

There is a crucial detail that alleviates concerns: the proposal would automatically expire after approximately one year. This period would serve as a “test zone” during which developers could craft more permanent and less abrasive solutions to the same problem.

It’s a way of saying: “Let us see how it works before making it permanent.”

What’s Coming

If approved, this BIP would represent a significant change in how the Bitcoin network handles arbitrary data expansion. The discussion is still in its early stages, but one thing is certain: developers are paying close attention to the challenge of keeping Bitcoin scalable, secure, and free from abuses.