In a recent development that has stirred the Bitcoin community, developer Luke Dashjr’s proposal to address congestion caused by Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens on the Bitcoin network has sparked both support and strong opposition.
Dashjr failed to garner enough support for a proposed “bug fix” to the Bitcoin code that would essentially eliminate Ordinals and Inscriptions on the blockchain. The Bitcoin developer community’s opinion on this matter is divided, and due to the decentralized nature of the blockchain, any changes to the code require majority consensus.
Core developer Ava Chow ultimately concluded the discussion, stating that the PR was “controversial” and that the debate had reached a “stalemate.”
She remarked:
“In its current state, [the PR] has no hope of reaching a conclusion that is acceptable to everyone.”
The Proposed Solution
As a prominent figure in Bitcoin development, Dashjr suggested a solution to enhance “spam filtration” in Taproot transactions, with the aim of blocking Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens which he views as exploiting a vulnerability in Bitcoin Core.
Although Dashjr’s proposal is based on network integrity concerns, it has initiated debates on the decentralized governance of Bitcoin. Even though his fix is planned for adoption in v27 of Bitcoin Core next year, it has not gained traction in the upcoming v26 release.
Dashjr’s bold statement that “Ordinals never existed to begin with. It’s all fraud” has added to the controversy.
The Ongoing Debate
The discussion continues within the Bitcoin community regarding whether Ordinals have a positive or negative impact on the ecosystem.
Advocates, such as Michael Saylor, argue that Inscriptions and Ordinals represent an innovative development that has revitalized interest in Bitcoin. They believe that there is a clear demand for Ordinals and Inscriptions due to rising fees.
Supporters suggest that Ordinals offer an ideal platform for beta-testing the blockchain for potential mass adoption. They also emphasize that these tokens have introduced a new revenue source for miners that will continue to be profitable long after all Bitcoins are mined.
On the other hand, critics argue that Ordinals pose a threat to Bitcoin and could compromise its reputation as “digital gold.” They believe that these tokens have led to unnecessary spam and congestion on the blockchain, and should not be linked with Bitcoin.
Developer Jimmy Song recently likened Ordinals to a new altcoin pump and dump scam. He mentioned that investors have become more discerning about distinguishing Bitcoin from other cryptocurrencies, making it challenging for scammers to attract investments. Song stated that scammers now exploit Bitcoin’s credibility to lure investors into new scams like Ordinals.
