According to Mempool’s research information, “There have been more data storage transactions (OP_RETURN and registrations) in Bitcoin over the past year than other transactions.” The measurement of the issue includes 365 days before May 18, 2025.
That said, it means that Bitcoin is currently recognized in a non-exclusive way As a value reserve and as a virtual data storage system. According to Bitbo data, the number of “sleep coins” on the network will only increase. BTC is thought to be “sleeping” when it is not moving from one direction for more than a year. Logically, non-moving Bitcoins indicate that holders use them as value reserves.
Even if the network still houses the ability to perform this function, the trend to use BTC as payment currency appears to be stagnant. Mempool researcher Orangesurfbtc shared graphic representations and images of transaction counts, depending on the type of use of the Bitcoin network.
Images have been published over the past 365 days. 53% of transactions have the purpose of storing data in Bitcoinop_return through transactions or registrations (such as Alkanes, Runes, BRC_20). Specifically, of the above-mentioned proportions, 40.8% are OP_Return transactions and 12.2% inscriptions.
According to the Bitcoin Technical Education website, it is called Learn Bitcoin from me, “Op_return refers to a standard blocking script that can be used to store data within a transaction.”
As Cryptonotics reported on May 1, the new network trends indicate that it is being used for non-financial purposes. In this case, for data storage on the Bitcoin blockchain, this decentralization and censorship restrictions make this use desirable. Therefore, bitcoin can be accommodated A file that is not subject to ad hoc reinterpretation of the past, but is essentially immutable.. In a certain way, Bitcoin as a storage system appears to be realizing the dream of an illustrated encyclopedia to create a universal archive of censorship resistance.
Cryptonotics has been monitoring discussions about the 83-byte limit of the Op_return operation. This is important for social functions that users will be attributable to Bitcoin in the future.
Some believe that this network should only serve as a financial system, while others believe that Bitcoin can integrate the opposition and become files in addition to money.
The truth is that this argument is open and that at present, each side with conflicting positions has its own client running Bitcoin nodes. Bitcoin Core is forgiving for arbitrary data registration, but Knots, a solution created by Luke Dashjr, is more restrictive and can be used to eliminate “spam” using filters (Non-metalit transaction is for a knot runner) on the network.
Registration with a 12.2% participation share was popularized in 2023 by ordinance protocols, allowing larger data (such as images and files) to be saved. The use of these inscriptions has declined considerably over time, but continues to create controversy. Some view it as “spam” that conges the network, while others protect it as a natural evolution of Bitcoin, decentralized systems.
The perspective that these non-monetary data in Bitcoin is spam usually refers to the fact that data storage generates «It’s bulging«Increases the size of data the node needs to store and process. You can do this The Bitcoin network is slow and expensive. In the context of Bitcoin, It’s bulging As more data is added, it refers to a continuous increase in storage requirements.
Defenders, on the other hand, do not believe that non-financial transactions are spam, and believe that these alternative use cases modernize the network and adapt to the natural needs that arise within the Bitcoin and crypto community.
In any case, regardless of the stance adopted, the Bitcoin core-knot conflict is supporting the Bitcoin network. Knot’s departure and promotion makes it at your network’s disposal A candidate who is currently creating actual traction. As a result, Knott causes a transition from Bitcoin Core to this client, reducing the second hegemony.
Bitcoin Core has been the only relevant client for several years and has created its own failure point. In fact, according to some analysts, Bitcoin’s core is the most dangerous centralization point in the network.
However, on a regular basis in Bitcoin, the crisis generally precedes a move towards more decentralization. That’s the opinion of the crypto environment editor on this subject. If there was one, now there are two clients that offer the same functionality. Therefore, it is easier to control damage, as the effects of one virtual fault are attenuated by the presence and stability of the other. It’s decentralization.