Saylor and Back criticize Bitcoin BIP 110, warn of split

Two of Bitcoin's most prominent figures have publicly opposed a proposed protocol change, warning it risks fracturing the network and setting a dangerous precedent. Michael Saylor, executive chairman of the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, and Blockstream co-founder Adam Back have both criticized Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 110 (BIP 110), arguing it conflicts with the cryptocurrency's foundational principles.

The proposal, introduced in December 2025, is described by its supporters as a temporary soft fork aimed at curbing what they call network spam. Specifically, BIP 110 would impose temporary consensus rules for approximately one year to restrict large data fields and certain methods used to inscribe non-financial data, such as images, onto the blockchain. The stated goal is to preserve block space for monetary transactions and reduce long-term data storage burdens on node operators. The proposal would exempt existing unspent transaction outputs, meaning data stored before activation would remain spendable.

Saylor and Back contend the change represents an overreach. Saylor argued that BIP 110 transforms a dispute over transaction types into a fundamental consensus change...