The problem I see with the current OP_RETURN development is primarily the legal aspect. When large amounts of data can be stored in a single transaction, access to that data becomes extremely easy. Previously, when data had to be split across multiple transactions, you needed additional information to reconstruct it: you needed to know which transactions belonged together, in what order, and you had to actively assemble the content with a script. That acted as a natural barrier because it required effort, knowledge, and intent. Now, in the worst case, a single transaction ID is enough. One click in a block explorer, and the full content becomes visible. Even if it is only hex-encoded data, the legal situation is fundamentally different. The risk falls not just on the sender, but also on full node operators, explorer operators, and potentially even end users. That should be taken seriously.

„This year, block propagation has slowed down, because some transactions are missing from node mempools.“ That’s a disadvantage for miners who include transactions containing non-monetary data. If miners don’t include them, there’s no delay. So does this finally mean filters aren’t useless after all?

The "What is Money?" Show • Core vs Knots — Who’s Really Controlling Bitcoin? w/ Jameson Lopp • Listen on Fountain

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Our debt-based financial system is not about creating wealth. It is about control. Debt steers people toward what benefits the lenders and creates a centralized system of control over others. It is a tool the rich use to shape the work and choices of everyone else.

In the long run, Bitcoin miners that neither use surplus energy nor repurpose their waste heat will struggle to remain profitable. As competition increases, profit margins will continue to shrink. This is why it would be fascinating to integrate mining chips into everyday devices that already produce heat, such as the boilers inside coffee machines. Take a coffee machine, for example. Its boiler operates almost continuously, and if it were powered by small mining chips, the heat generated by mining could be used to warm the water at the same time. With millions of such machines running around the world, they could collectively help secure the Bitcoin network in a highly decentralized way, distributed across countless locations. Companies that adopt such designs could benefit by earning rewards from the operation of all their machines. If anyone has experience with boiler systems, this might be an idea worth experimenting with. #mining #boiler

Progress on my dashboard from my mining management system The battery display is now dynamic, and at the top there is a scale showing how close my best difficulty has come to a block. The miner moves forward as the value increases. There are also status points: yellow when a miner finds a new best difficulty, and red when the hashrate drops too low or the temperature gets too high. Both remain visible until they are acknowledged.

The fact that transactions can currently be included in blocks without the consent of nodes is not due to Bitcoin itself, but to the centralized block creation by a few large mining pools. In a truly decentralized mining system, where no one knows who will find the next block, this would not be possible without the agreement of the nodes. This is why allowing OP_RETURN without limits is dangerous. Nodes would have to process and store far more data, which would push out smaller operators. Unequal mempools would emerge when large amounts of spam compete with real transactions at the same fee levels. Since many nodes can only hold a limited size (for example 200 MB) while the network may contain in the future far more data (for example 800 MB), each node would end up storing a different set of transactions. As a result, block propagation would slow down because nodes are no longer working from the same transaction base. In the end, only large pools with expensive infrastructure would benefit. If we want to keep mining decentralized and move it further in that direction, we need filters and clear limits instead of allowing unlimited data spam in the network.

I installed Bitcoin Core and Bitcoin Knots on my Umbrel server at the same time, three days ago. Bitcoin Core has almost twice as many connections, even though I allow 250 connections on both. Are so many nodes that deliberately censor Bitcoin Knots? @npub1wnlu...n3wr

Great interview. Samson Mow has gained a lot of integrity in my eyes. He is one of the few developers who fairly and accurately weighs the arguments of those opposing Core.

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What Bitcoin Did • The Fight For Bitcoin’s Future | Samson Mow • Listen on Fountain

Samson Mow is the CEO of JAN3 and former CSO at Blockstream. In this episode, we get into the growing rift between Bitcoin Core and Knots, why mist...

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Update on my Mining Management System Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working on integrating my Bitaxe miners into my visualization. It wasn’t easy, but I finally got the interface running smoothly, and now I can display live data from each miner. The interface has been redesigned, the core setup is ready. Next comes the fine-tuning: more indicators, cleaner visuals, and some animations I plan to add in the coming weeks. The Project idea: When the solar panel produces excess power and the battery is full, the system automatically switches on more Bitaxe miners via relays. If production drops, it scales them back down. This way, surplus electricity can be put to work for mining and everything can be monitored visually in the interface.

My current position on the Core debate: If Bitcoin is accepted by the broader public, the mining market will become so competitive that it will mainly be viable with excess electricity or by reusing the heat from computers. These applications are distributed worldwide and are most efficient directly at the source where surplus energy or heat exists. Pools will continue to exist, but they will increasingly consist of participants located across many different regions. For Bitcoin’s decentralization it is essential that these different actors have the ability to construct their own blocks. Protocols such as Stratum V2 are important because they give individual miners the power to decide on block content rather than leaving this responsibility entirely to the pool operator, which otherwise strengthens centralization. In my view, the new Core version continues to push Bitcoin in a centralized mining direction even though we already have tools that could make mining more decentralized. With this version, it becomes harder for individuals to mine because running Core alone is no longer enough. A miner also has to worry about which filters to activate in order to avoid legal risks if a block they find were to include illegal content. This raises the barrier for small participants. Until now the OP_RETURN limit has already made it almost impossible for illegal content to slip into a block without being split across multiple transactions. Instead of leaving this safeguard as it is, the new changes create additional complexity and discourage individual miners. The result is that large pools benefit while individuals lose part of their freedom to decide how to run their node, whether they want to mine or simply participate independently in the network. I am aware that settings can still be adjusted, but it is a major pitfall if I want to use my node for mining. What I find troubling is the very assumption that a node is not by default meant to be used for mining and for securing Bitcoin’s decentralization. #mining #core

Hey Jack, you uploaded the same episode as last week on Spotify and Fountain😅 @jack mallers

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The Jack Mallers Show • All Roads Lead To Whichever Money Is Hardest (Bitcoin) • Listen on Fountain

Streaming live Mondays at 6pm ET on The Jack Mallers Show YouTube channel.

I use Bitcoin Knots because I disagree with Bitcoin Core pushing changes and adjusting default settings despite significant resistance. Having multiple developer groups is crucial for decentralization, security, and diverse perspectives. Whether it’s about differing opinions or preventing unintended bugs. I’ve also come across an even stronger argument: Without proper filters or limits, attackers could push large amounts of illegal data, including pictures or even videos, through the mempool, letting it spread across the network without paying the high fees required to get it into a block. Node operators could unknowingly become legally exposed by relaying such content. Don’t change a running system. Why is it suddenly so important to remove these limits? Are the Bitcoin Core developers fully aware of these potential consequences? #knots #node #spam

Under a Bitcoin standard, war loses its biggest incentive. Conquering a country wouldn’t grant you its wealth. Bitcoin is protected by multisig, beyond the reach of force. The only way to access value would be cooperation, not plunder. Bitcoin realigns incentives: it shifts power from violence to consensus and makes peace more profitable than war.

Bitcoin is the first form of property that can be secured completely independently of physical boundaries and central authorities.

This week I made more progress on my solar-powered mining project. A previously undersized diode burned out, so I replaced it with a properly rated one and installed it professionally inside a protective tube. I also added a cutout for the LAN cable to connect the PLC. The enclosure is now fully completed on the mechanical side.

We recently found something that actually helped and it made us realize how disappointed we are with how today’s healthcare system addresses women’s health. My girlfriend has suffered from severe menstrual pain and PMS for years, most likely due to endometriosis. She went from doctor to doctor and tried various treatments, but nothing truly made a difference. Eventually, we came across something important: the liver plays a central role in hormone regulation. If the liver is overburdened, which often doesn’t show up in standard blood tests, it may not break down hormones properly. This can intensify PMS symptoms and increase pain throughout the menstrual cycle. One of the most frustrating things is that conventional medicine often does not know how to treat endometriosis or menstrual pain effectively. The standard response is usually painkillers or hormonal birth control, both of which place even more stress on the liver. That might explain why these options help temporarily, but the symptoms often return or get worse over time. In today’s world, it’s no surprise that the liver is under constant pressure, constantly exposed to things like pollution, processed food, alcohol, exhaust fumes, and medications… A few weeks ago, my girlfriend started taking natural supplements to support her liver, and her pain has already decreased noticeably. It is unfortunate that so many women live with this kind of pain, but maybe this information can help someone else. Of course, there is no guarantee that this will work for everyone, but in our case, it has been worth trying. And if sharing this helps even a few more people, then it was worth writing. @nat brunell @npub1aftm...dcke @Lyn Alden @CARLA⚡️ @Tanja @Efrat Fenigson

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working on a PLC program. The idea: Two of my Bitaxe miners run continuously. They slightly discharge the battery, which recharges when the sun is shining. Once the battery is full, additional miners are automatically activated to use the surplus solar energy. In parallel, the battery can also be charged from the grid when needed. This grid charging is part of the automation and is triggered by defined threshold values. I’ve also developed (with a bit of help) a web interface that provides real-time access to key system data: battery status, power production, and miner consumption… Editable fields in blue let you define switching thresholds for each relay. When a relay is active, a green indicator lights up next to it. There’s also a maintenance button that turns on all miners at once. Over the coming weeks, I plan to further improve the layout and expand the functionality. #solomining #PLC #solar