op_return spam is beneficial

Posted by Erik Aronesty

Oct 27, 2025/03:39 UTC

The discussion raises an important issue concerning the Bitcoin network, particularly focusing on block utilization and its implications on miner incentives and the overall security and efficiency of the network. When blocks are not filled to their capacity, the transaction fees—which constitute a significant portion of miners' rewards apart from block rewards—tend to be minimal. This situation could potentially undermine the financial incentives for miners to commit computational resources to the network, which in turn might lead to a decline in the network's hash power. Such a decline in hash power is undesirable as it directly impacts the security and robustness of the blockchain, making it more susceptible to attacks.

To address this issue, the proposal suggests a reduction in the size of blocks within the Bitcoin blockchain. This approach aims to increase the competition for block space, thereby driving up transaction fees as users vie to have their transactions included in the next block. As a result, even in the absence of full blocks, miners would still be adequately compensated through higher transaction fees, thus maintaining their incentive to contribute hash power to the network.

Another aspect of the proposal highlights the importance of improving the mechanisms for securely sharing Unspent Transaction Outputs (UTXOs). Enhancing the ability to share UTXOs securely can play a crucial role in optimizing the use of block space. By facilitating more efficient use of UTXOs, the network can accommodate a larger number of transactions within the existing block size limits. This improvement not only contributes to the scalability of the Bitcoin network but also ensures that more participants can engage in the ecosystem without necessarily having to increase block sizes.

In essence, the proposal underscores a strategic approach to sustaining the Bitcoin network's security and miner participation by adjusting block sizes and enhancing UTXO utilization. These measures aim to balance the demand for block space with the supply, ensuring that miners remain incentivized through adequate transaction fees while also promoting greater efficiency and participation within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

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