The Bitcoin civil war intensifies! Bitcoin Core and Knots compete for dominance, and the risk of network split approaches.

The Bitcoin community in 2025 is caught in the most intense internal division since the block size debate in 2017. This time, the battleground revolves around the two major implementations, Bitcoin Core and Bitcoin Knots, as well as the upcoming removal of the OP_RETURN restriction in Core v30. The arguments between supporters and opponents have escalated from technical differences to ideological confrontations, which could even lead to a network split.

Controversy Focus: OP_RETURN Restriction Lifted

Core Plan: In the v30 version released in October 2025, the 80-byte limit on OP_RETURN data will be removed.

Purpose: Enhance flexibility and allow for more on-chain data applications, such as digital art and document verification.

Supportive views (Peter Todd, Jameson Lopp):

Bitcoin should maintain its permissionless characteristic.

Users can freely use the blockchain by paying, and there should be no additional governance restrictions.

Lopp emphasized: "If you don't like the anarchy, you can leave freely."

Opposition Voices: Knots and Anti-Spam Camp

Knots maintainers Luke Dashjr and Samson Mow warn:

1. The upgrade will open the "spam gate".

2. The risk of blockchain expansion is rising, threatening the monetary properties and neutrality of Bitcoin.

Dashjr stated: "Unless the community rejects this change, the chances of Bitcoin's success will turn into a bubble."

Knots Advantages: Built-in anti-spam features, restrictions on non-financial transactions, maintaining scalability.

The Key Role of Nodes and Miners

(Source: CryptoSlate)

Miners and relay service providers: determine which transactions will be packaged into blocks.

Node operators: Choose to run Core or Knots, affecting network consensus.

Data Trend: In May-June 2025, the share of Knots nodes doubled within six weeks, now accounting for about 17% of the entire network.

Meaning: Before the release of Core v30, the opposition was gathering strength, and protests could escalate into a network split.

Echoes of History: The Shadows of Division Witnessed in 2017

Although there has not yet been a hard fork, the possibility of both sides rejecting each other's blocks or transactions reminds people of the SegWit split in 2017.

Dashjr warns: For Bitcoin to operate normally, at least 85% of economic activity must be conducted through full nodes.

Core question: Should Bitcoin be a strict monetary settlement layer, or a multi-purpose platform capable of carrying more on-chain data?

Future Outlook: October May Become a Watershed

Core v30 Release: It will become a significant milestone in the history of Bitcoin development.

Potential Outcome:

Software diversity enhanced, network resilience improved.

The intensification of ideological conflicts has led to chain splits.

Market Impact: If a split occurs, it may repeat the price and hash power fluctuations of 2017.

Conclusion

The showdown between Bitcoin Core and Knots is not just a debate about a technical update, but a soul-searching question about the future positioning of Bitcoin. Should it remain "pure digital gold," or embrace more on-chain applications? The answer may be revealed after the release of Core v30 in October 2025.