Relax OP_RETURN standardness restrictions

The discussion initiates with a provocative question about the legality of an image altered by changing every 173rd pixel to a red dot, providing a visual example via an Imgur link. This serves as a prelude to the main argument concerning security vulnerabilities within the Bitcoin network. The premise is that if altering an image in such a minor yet systematic way does not change its legal status, similarly, embedding potentially illegal or malicious content within data stored on the blockchain could be equally inconspicuous yet problematic.

The conversation evolves to illustrate how an attacker might exploit the Bitcoin blockchain by encoding illegal or harmful content within transaction data. Choosing BMP as an example due to its uncompressed format allows for a straightforward explanation of how specific bytes corresponding to altered pixels (in this case, made red) can represent a valid serialization of witness elements in a transaction. This encoding effectively bypasses conventional detection methods, making it possible for nodes within the network to unknowingly store illegal information. The correspondence underscores the urgency and severity of this issue by noting that, once such data is embedded in the blockchain, rectifying the problem would necessitate resynchronizing the entire chain from scratch.

Furthermore, the potential for distributing malware through similar methods is briefly touched upon. It is suggested that by employing techniques to skip invalid bytes, malware distribution via the blockchain could present an even more significant threat than the storage of illegal images. This implies a deep-seated vulnerability within the system that could be exploited for various nefarious purposes.

Overall, the communication emphasizes the inherent risks and challenges posed by the blockchain's immutable nature and the ease with which it can be exploited for illegal activities. It calls into question the security measures in place and the potential need for immediate action to prevent the exploitation of these vulnerabilities.