Bitcoin Core 30 Lets Users Store Megabytes, Not Just Bytes

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OP_RETURN Upgrade: Bitcoin Core 30 Lets Users Store Megabytes, Not Just Bytes

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: June 11, 2025

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin Core 30 will lift the OP_RETURN limit, which allows 4 megabytes of data per output starting October 30;
Supporters say the change unlocks new use cases, but critics fear it strays from Bitcoin’s purpose;
Some longtime backers, like Dennis Porter, are pulling support over the direction of development.

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OP_RETURN Upgrade: Bitcoin Core 30 Lets Users Store Megabytes, Not Just Bytes

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Bitcoin’s BTC $107,304.13 next software update is set to bring a major change to how data can be added to its blockchain.

Scheduled for release on October 30, Bitcoin Core 30 will lift the old 80-byte limit on the OP_RETURN function, and replace it with a cap of 4 megabytes per output.

This will enable users to include more content, such as full documents, text, and images, directly in Bitcoin transactions. Developer Gloria Zhao confirmed the change in a GitHub post on June 9.

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Zhao explained that the role of developers is not to decide what kinds of transactions are acceptable. Instead, she said it is up to users to decide how they want to use the blockchain.

Additionally, the lead author of the proposal, Peter Todd, views this as a means to unlock new applications for Bitcoin beyond payments.

Developers had already hinted back in May that this update was coming. OP_RETURN gained recognition when it was utilized to embed items such as non-fungible token (NFT) style images.

However, the expanded data limit has caused disagreement within the community. Some longtime supporters argue that this kind of update contradicts what Bitcoin was intended to be: a simple, secure tool for sending money.

Dennis Porter, CEO of the Satoshi Action Fund, stated that he had helped raise over $200,000 to support the work of Bitcoin Core developers, but now feels let down and will not be donating again.

Meanwhile, on May 18, Saifedean Ammous, author of The Bitcoin Standard, shared his thoughts on how to address spam on the Bitcoin network. What did he say? Read the full story.