Bitcoin Core developer Jimmy Song has expressed disappointment with the Taproot upgrade, stating it has fallen short of its anticipated privacy and security enhancements. In a recent discussion, Song noted that while Taproot introduced technical improvements, its practical benefits have been limited, particularly in everyday Bitcoin transactions. He highlighted that the upgrade’s potential for bolstering user privacy through Schnorr signatures and Merkelized Alternative Script Trees (MAST) has not been widely realized, as adoption remains low among wallets and services. Song also pointed out an unexpected aspect: Taproot’s ‘trolling value,’ where its features can be used for non-serious or provocative on-chain actions, something creators did not initially foresee. Despite these criticisms, Taproot remains a significant milestone in Bitcoin’s evolution, offering a foundation for future scalability and smart contract capabilities. The broader developer community continues to explore ways to leverage Taproot’s infrastructure for more robust solutions, though Song’s remarks underscore the challenges in translating theoretical advancements into tangible user benefits.
