Adam Back, a Bitcoin Core developer, this week called supporters of BIP-110 an 'idiocracy' on X, escalating the debate over whether to restrict non-financial data on Bitcoin's network. The proposal, which targets Ordinals inscriptions, faces a critical miner signaling deadline in early August 2026. Back's blunt dismissal comes as the community weighs the risks of a potential chain split.
The 'Flip the Bit' Plan
BIP-110 would restrict non-financial data on Bitcoin's blockchain, effectively targeting Ordinals. The mechanism requires a majority of miners to signal support by early August to lock in the change. Start9, a Bitcoin infrastructure firm, argued that flipping the bit costs roughly 0.1% of a miner's revenue over a year. They warned that refusing the change risks a chain split, stranded Lightning Network counterparties, and lost fee-paying users.
Back's Rebuttal
Back rejected Start9's framing. He said the signal simply expires without broad backing, so there's no threat to Bitcoin's main chain if miner support never appears. Back cited IETF-like consensus, arguing that only valid technical objections can block a proposal. He previously downplayed a related miner fork claim and pointed to his own fork risk warning, suggesting the debate isn't as dire as some portray.
Miners and Exchanges on the Sidelines
Miner support for BIP-110 remains minimal. Major mining pools have largely stayed out of the public fray. Exchanges and node operators are watching the deadline warily due to the potential for a chain split. Michael Saylor raised concerns that the change could sacrifice Bitcoin's protocol neutrality, adding another layer of unease.
The OP_RETURN Precedent
Bitcoin Core previously removed default limits on OP_RETURN, a transaction field used for data. That move opened the door for more data on-chain, which later enabled Ordinals. The current debate is, in part, a reaction to that earlier decision. Some see BIP-110 as a course correction; others see it as a betrayal of Bitcoin's permissionless ethos.
The early August deadline is fast approaching. Whether miners signal or not, the question of what belongs on Bitcoin's blockchain isn't going away.
