Consensus Cleanup BIP draft

In a recent exchange on the Bitcoin Development Mailing List, significant points were raised regarding the proposition of a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP). The proposal has undergone extensive research and discussion by various experts over the past year, which underscores the proposer's confidence in moving forward with it. This broad base of scrutiny is highlighted as crucial, particularly given the different levels of attention and expertise brought during the pre-BIP and BIP stages. Such a process not only ensures thorough vetting but also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a flexible mindset to encourage constructive feedback from those with relevant expertise.

However, a critical oversight was identified in the proposal concerning the existence of 64-byte transactions on-chain, which was only brought to the proposer's attention seven days prior to this correspondence. Additionally, the proposal suggests a workaround using coinbase nSequence that has raised concerns about its practicality and acceptance among miners. Questions were raised about whether discussions had occurred with stakeholders in the mining sector regarding how such changes might affect their operations, especially considering the possibility that some ASICs might hardcode fields that historically did not require modification.

The debate extends to the advisability of removing 64-byte transactions from the Bitcoin protocol. There are strong opinions against this move, citing it as an undesirable alteration to transaction processing. Critics argue that such a change could negatively impact future upgrades, particularly those enhancing transaction programmability, due to potential incompatibilities introduced by this "edge condition." These discussions reflect the intricate balance between innovation and the need for cautious, consensus-driven evolution within the Bitcoin ecosystem, highlighting the diverse viewpoints and technical considerations that influence the development of the protocol.