The "Spam War" of 2025 is approaching, and Bitcoin may face the biggest crisis since the Block Size War.

In 2025, the Bitcoin community is embroiled in a fierce debate known as the “Spam War.” This conflict is seen by many seasoned players as the most serious ideological challenge to Bitcoin since the Block Size War of 2017. The core of the controversy is no longer the block size, but the OP_RETURN restrictions and the deepening divide between Bitcoin Core and Bitcoin Knots.

Origins of the War: Ordinals and On-Chain Data Controversy

Starting point: In 2023, Ordinals launched, allowing users to directly embed data such as NFTs and digital art onto the Bitcoin blockchain.

Supporters' viewpoint: It brings innovation and new applications, as long as the transaction fee is paid, it is legal to use.

Opponents' viewpoint: Increasing on-chain “garbage data”, raising transaction fees, threatening the purity of Bitcoin as a currency.

The Catalyst for 2025: OP_RETURN Restriction Lifted

Bitcoin Core plans to remove the 80-byte OP_RETURN limit in version v30, aiming to support more on-chain operations.

Core stance: Maximize the freedom of use, any paid transaction should be allowed.

Knots Position: Luke Dashjr warns that this move will open the floodgates for spam, turning Bitcoin into a “non-financial data dump.”

As the debate heats up, Knots node shares have surged to 18.5%, indicating that some node operators are switching sides.

Developer and Industry Split

(Source: Bitref)

Luke Dashjr (Knots): Unlimited spam will destroy the chances of Bitcoin's success.

Samson Mow (Founder of Jan3): Unlimited data will undermine Bitcoin's resilience as a store of value.

Adam Back (CEO of Blockstream): While supporting Core, it is a mistake to ignore the risk of spam.

Peter Todd (Core Developer): The supporters of the anti-Knots have intensified tensions, and illegal data on the blockchain is inevitable.

Real Risks: Philosophical Differences Behind Technical Disputes

This war is not only a technical adjustment, but also a fundamental debate about the future positioning of Bitcoin:

Currency Settlement Layer: Focused on Anti-Censorship, Decentralization, and Currency Functionality

Multi-purpose platform distribution: allows for art, data, and experimental applications, available for a fee.

This divergence concerns the global perception of Bitcoin's neutrality and utility, impacting future adoption and governance directions.

Future Direction: October as a Key Node

Time Point: October 2025, Core v30 is expected to implement OP_RETURN changes.

Potential results:

Controllable conflict: Both parties compromise to maintain network stability.

On-chain Split: Replaying the 2017 Block Size War, Triggering a Hard Fork

As tribalism heats up and more participants join, the spam war is rapidly escalating into a full-blown ideological confrontation within the Bitcoin community.

Conclusion

The spam war of 2025 is no longer a technical debate among developers, but a significant divergence concerning the future positioning and global perception of Bitcoin. The v30 upgrade in October will be a critical moment, as Bitcoin may face the most severe internal challenge since the Block Size War.