Relax OP_RETURN standardness restrictions

The recent discourse on the utilization of Bitcoin within the crypto community highlights a nuanced understanding of its application beyond mere currency or storage. Significantly, projects like Citrea are pioneering an innovative approach by leveraging Bitcoin not as a data storage mechanism but as a means for data publication. This distinction underscores the strategic use of the Bitcoin blockchain to ensure that data reaches a targeted audience efficiently and verifiably. By embedding data into the blockchain, these projects attest to the dissemination and wide publication of information among a specific group of participants, who are integral to the process or need access to said data.

Moreover, the functionality of protocols such as HTLCs (Hashed Timelock Contracts) in the Lightning Network exemplifies this concept further. HTLCs capitalize on the Bitcoin blockchain's capabilities to publish data in a manner that guarantees visibility and access among participants within the chain. This ensures that all parties involved can view the necessary data promptly, facilitating smoother transactions and interactions within the network.

These insights reveal a broader spectrum of Bitcoin's utility, highlighting its role in fostering transparency and trust through the decentralized verification of published data. It accentuates the blockchain's potential in streamlining processes where the wide publication and accessibility of information are crucial. For more detailed insights into these applications and their implications for Bitcoin's evolving role, Peter Todd's work provides valuable perspectives, available at https://petertodd.org.