A Major Step Forward for Bitcoin’s Security and Performance The Bitcoin Core team — the developers behind Bitcoin’s reference client has released version 30.0, a major update focused on enhancing security, scalability, and usability. The new release reflects years of community input and technical refinements designed to keep the Bitcoin network strong and efficient. According to the official website, Bitcoin Core remains an open-source project that ensures the stable operation of Bitcoin’s main client. Thousands of users contribute feedback, while a small team of maintainers implements and reviews updates to ensure reliability and decentralization. Key Improvements in Bitcoin Core 30.0 Bitcoin Core 30.0 introduces several significant changes: Obsolete signature operations are now limited to 2,500 per standard transaction. The default -datacarriersize parameter is now 100,000 bytes . Multiple OP_RETURN outputs are now supported, allowing more non-financial data in transactions. The orphan transaction buffer was redesigned to improve DoS resistance. A new command-line feature allows launching other executables for better usability. External signature support has been re-added for Windows users. Mining IPC interface support (e.g., for Stratum v2) was added through a new command. The coinstatsindex implementation was updated. Numerous RPC changes were made for improved flexibility. Legacy BDB wallets can no longer be created or downloaded but can be migrated using the migratewallet tool. Migration from Qt 5 to Qt 6 was completed, bringing dark mode on Windows and Metal backend support on macOS. With this release, branches 27.x and earlier have officially reached End of Life (EOL) status. The Most Controversial Change: OP_RETURN Limit Raised Among all updates, the increase in the OP_RETURN limit stands out as the most debated. Version 30.0 expands the limit from 80 bytes to 100,000 bytes, enabling larger non-financial transactions — such as those used in the Runes standard. Supporters, including early developer Peter Todd, argue that this change simplifies existing mechanisms and supports innovation. Critics, including cryptography pioneer Nick Szabo, warn it could bloat the blockchain with non-essential or even illegal data. Szabo has suggested Bitcoin Knots, an alternative client, as a temporary safeguard. “This limit increase invites developers to push more non-financial data,” Szabo noted. “Without proper tools to remove illegal content, node operators may face risks.” Todd countered that such concerns are exaggerated, stating the network already accommodates such data — the update merely streamlines the process. What This Means for Bitcoin’s Future Bitcoin Core 30.0 signals a new phase of greater flexibility and modernized infrastructure. From user interface improvements to deep protocol upgrades, this release sets the foundation for the next wave of Bitcoin innovation — while reigniting one of the community’s oldest debates about what Bitcoin should be.
