Posted by Chris Stewart
Mar 28, 2025/11:02 UTC
In a discussion highlighted on the DelvingBitcoin forum, an intriguing aspect of segwit transactions was brought to attention. Specifically, it was noted that a segwit transaction with a single input and output, directing funds to a 2-byte witness program, exhibits a unique characteristic due to the treatment of witness data in Bitcoin's protocol. Unlike other transaction components, witness data is exempt from the 64-byte size limitation, allowing for potentially unlimited witness sizes. This peculiarity offers a broad avenue for transaction structure manipulation, although its practical applications, particularly in scenarios involving pay-to-anchor outputs, remain debatable.
The concept of pay-to-anchor outputs, as discussed, is currently utilized within this framework of segwit transactions. However, the practicality and rationale behind employing anchor outputs in transactions characterized by a singular input and output configuration are subjects of ongoing debate. Despite the acknowledged potential for innovation, the original proponent of pay-to-anchor outputs has not provided any substantial updates or clarifications following the initial revelation of the issue. This situation underscores a broader dialogue within the Bitcoin development community regarding the evolution of transaction protocols and the complex interplay between technical feasibility and real-world application scenarios.
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