Prominent Bitcoin educator and developer Jimmy Song has launched a sharp critique against Bitcoin Core developers, accusing them of adopting a ‘fiat’ mentality in their approach to the network’s development. The criticism centers on the ongoing debate regarding the use of the OP_Return function for embedding non-monetary data on the Bitcoin blockchain. Song contends that core developers have strayed from Bitcoin’s foundational principles by inadequately addressing community concerns about data storage and transaction malleability. He argues that this reflects a top-down, centralized decision-making process reminiscent of traditional fiat systems, which contradicts Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos. The dispute highlights a significant philosophical divide within the ecosystem about the blockchain’s primary purpose—whether it should serve solely as a monetary settlement layer or also support broader data applications. This tension underscores the challenges in maintaining Bitcoin’s original vision while adapting to evolving technological and user demands.
