Blockstream CEO Adam Back criticized BIP-110, aimed at combating "spam" on the Bitcoin network. He described the initiative as a threat to the reputation of the first cryptocurrency.
"It's worse as it is an attack on bitcoin's credibility as a store of value, its security credibility, and a lynch mob attempt to push changes there is not consensus for. Spam is just an annoyance; it all definitionally fits within the block size. The OP returns are 4x smaller."
— Adam Back (@adam3us) February 15, 2026
Developer Dathon Ohm proposed temporarily reducing the data limit in transactions for 12 months. This initiative aims to address the blockchain's overload from images and media files.
Back supported the notion of Bitcoin as "hard money" but opposed interference with consensus. He stated that spam is merely an "annoyance" that does not pose a real threat to network security.
"This is an attack on Bitcoin's authority as a store of value. It's a lynch mob attempt to push changes without general consent," Back wrote.
"It's worse as it is an attack on bitcoin's credibility as a store of value, its security credibility, and a lynch mob attempt to push changes there is not consensus for. Spam is just an annoyance; it all definitionally fits within the block size. The OP returns are 4x smaller."
— Adam Back (@adam3us) February 15, 2026
Blockstream's head also warned of technical risks. Implementing BIP-110 could render some unspent transaction outputs inaccessible, effectively freezing users' funds.
Proposal author Dathon Ohm acknowledged the theoretical possibility of blocking but assured that the code is "thoroughly designed to avoid damage in known scenarios."
Support for BIP-110 has been expressed by about 7.5% of nodes, nearly all of which use the Bitcoin Knots client.
The share of this software has risen to 22.7% due to users migrating from Bitcoin Core (77.2%). The split occurred at the end of 2025 when Core developers lifted the 80-byte limit for the OP_RETURN function, allowing new types of data to be recorded on the blockchain.
Recall that in December 2025, Back criticized Castle Island Ventures partner Nick Carter for inciting panic over the threat posed to Bitcoin by quantum computers.