Bitcoin Core 30 is a Trojan Horse

 

Bitcoin Core 30's OP_RETURN Expansion: A Threat to Decentralization

The Issue with OP_RETURN Expansion

Bitcoin Core version 30, released in October 2025, increased the OP_RETURN data limit from 80 bytes to 100,000 bytes by default. This change allows significantly larger data payloads in transactions, enabling use cases like embedding proofs, tokens, or state logs for applications such as smart contracts or rollups. While some developers argue this modernizes Bitcoin and enhances its utility for Web3 builders, the expansion introduces serious risks that undermine the network's foundational principles.

Risks of the Expansion

1. Permanent Storage of Illegal Content

The expanded OP_RETURN creates a vector for bad actors to embed illegal content, such as child sexual abuse material (CSAM), directly onto the blockchain. Since Bitcoin's design is censorship-resistant, miners and nodes lack built-in mechanisms to filter such data. Every full node must then store this content indefinitely, exposing node operators to legal liability. In jurisdictions with strict laws, running a node could become a criminal act, threatening Bitcoin's accessibility and adoption.

2. Blockchain Bloat and Centralization

The Bitcoin blockchain is already approximately 600 GB as of October 2025. With OP_RETURN now supporting up to 100,000 bytes per transaction, the blockchain's size could quadruple rapidly if large data payloads become common. This growth disproportionately affects users in regions with limited storage or bandwidth, making it impractical for them to run full nodes. As node operation becomes resource-intensive, only well-funded entities—like corporations or cloud providers—can afford to participate, pushing Bitcoin toward centralization and eroding its promise of user sovereignty.

3. Deviation from Bitcoin's Mission

Bitcoin was designed as a decentralized, peer-to-peer electronic cash system, prioritizing financial transactions and privacy. The OP_RETURN expansion shifts focus toward general-purpose data storage, aligning more with platforms like Ethereum. This feature creep risks transforming Bitcoin into a bloated database, compromising its core mission of providing a lean, censorship-resistant financial network.

Is This a Poison Pill?

The scale of these risks raises questions about intent. Some view the OP_RETURN expansion as a deliberate attempt to undermine Bitcoin's decentralized ethos—a poison pill designed to overload nodes, alienate users, and pave the way for corporate control. Whether intentional or not, the consequences could hand Bitcoin to centralized entities, turning it into "JP Morgan's blockchain" rather than a people's network.

Solutions to Protect Bitcoin

The community is not powerless. Here are actionable steps to counteract the OP_RETURN expansion and preserve Bitcoin's integrity:

1. Run Bitcoin Knots:
   Bitcoin Knots, maintained by Luke Dashjr, allows users to configure nodes to reject oversized OP_RETURN transactions. By adopting Knots, node operators can maintain leaner blockchain storage and protect against bloat while staying compatible with the Bitcoin network.

2. Organize a Hash Power Boycott:
   Miners control block validation. Users and smaller miners should notify mining pools that adopting Core 30 or processing large OP_RETURN transactions will lead to a hash power boycott. Redirecting hash power to pools enforcing stricter limits sends a clear economic signal: comply or lose revenue.

3. Push for a Soft Fork:
   A soft fork is essential to roll back the OP_RETURN limit permanently. Unlike a hard fork, it maintains backward compatibility, avoiding a network split. The community must rally developers, miners, and users to support a soft fork that restores sane data limits, ensuring Bitcoin remains accessible and decentralized.

4. Raise Awareness:
   Amplify the issue through public channels. Share data visualizations on platforms like X, Reddit, and Bitcoin Talk, showing how quickly the blockchain could grow with unchecked OP_RETURN usage. Use slogans like "Your chain or JP Morgan's" to galvanize support at conferences, online forums, and in developer communities.

Call to Action

The OP_RETURN expansion in Bitcoin Core 30 is a critical juncture for the network. Without intervention, it risks centralizing Bitcoin, exposing node operators to legal dangers, and straying from its mission as a decentralized financial system. Running Bitcoin Knots, organizing hash power boycotts, pushing for a soft fork, and raising awareness are concrete steps to fight back. The community must act decisively to ensure Bitcoin remains a decentralized, user-controlled network—not a corporate database.

Why Jam and Bitcoin Knots Won’t Play Nice on StartOS—Unraveled!

Attempting to pair Jam (v0.3.0) with Bitcoin Knots (v29.1) on StartOS (v0.3.5.1) sounded like a winning plan: combine CoinJoin privacy with a node that’s strict on transaction rules. But the reality? A frustrating slog through errors and dead ends. After digging through forums and wrestling with configs, the conclusion is clear: Jam and Bitcoin Knots on StartOS are not compatible—at least not without a headache. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown of the investigation and why this combo falls apart.

Step 1: The Plan and the First Snag

The goal was straightforward: ditch Bitcoin Core for Knots on StartOS to leverage its tighter transaction policies, then run Jam, the user-friendly JoinMarket interface for CoinJoin mixing. StartOS is built to make node management smooth, so expectations were high. But community buzz hinted at trouble—RPC connection issues where apps like Jam can’t talk to the Bitcoin node. Time to dive in and figure out what’s breaking.

Step 2: Raiding the Start9 Community Forums

The Start9 community forum (community.start9.com) was the first stop, a goldmine of user reports. Searches for “Jam Bitcoin Knots issues” and “Jam not working” pulled up critical threads.

• "Requesting Help with Jam" (July 2025): Users reported Jam (v0.3.0) stalling out, with errors like “Error while loading the orderbook… 502 Bad Gateway.” The issue? Jam’s Tor instance couldn’t connect to JoinMarket’s directory nodes. No one confirmed Knots working well, and some noted Jam briefly disappeared from the StartOS marketplace due to a glitch. Resetting Tor via SSH was suggested, but it was a coin toss—sometimes it helped, often it didn’t.

• "JAM: Not Working - Error Report" (November 2024, updated 2025): More trouble here—Jam’s Bitcoin market was dead, with logs showing handshake failures. Upgrading to Jam v0.4.0 was recommended, but StartOS was stuck on v0.3.0, and the v0.4.1 beta wasn’t production-ready. These issues pointed to Jam needing a stable RPC backend, and Knots seemed to be throwing a wrench in the works.

Jam’s official docs (jamdocs.org) confirmed StartOS compatibility but assumed Bitcoin Core, with no mention of Knots. Manual RPC settings (host: bitcoin.default, port: 8332) were required, and a note about BerkeleyDB wallet deprecation suggested potential compatibility hiccups with Knots.

Step 3: Tackling Bitcoin Knots’ Issues

Next, attention turned to Knots (v29.1) on StartOS (v0.3.5.1). Available through Start9’s Community Registry, Knots isn’t officially supported, and it shows. Forum threads from early 2025 highlighted the chaos:

• Switching from Bitcoin Core (v28+) to Knots caused update conflicts, leaving services stuck in “Needs Config” or “stopping” states. Health checks often failed, sometimes requiring a full server restart.

• Knots’ RPC connection was unreliable, especially during sync, hitting apps like Jam with “connection refused” errors.

These node issues left Jam high and dry, unable to fetch blockchain data. Community fixes included reinstalling Knots, waiting for a full sync, or even reflashing the server—not exactly plug-and-play.

Step 4: Connecting the Dots

After combing through forums and configs, the picture became clear:

• Jam (v0.3.0) has its own problems, with Tor and directory node issues making it unreliable. The fix in v0.4.1 is still in beta, leaving users stuck.

• Bitcoin Knots (v29.1) on StartOS (v0.3.5.1) adds instability, with update bugs and RPC quirks disrupting apps like Jam.

• No community reports showed Jam and Knots working smoothly together. Every attempt required SSH tweaks, config hacks, or endless restarts—a setup that’s more trouble than it’s worth.

The Verdict: A Combo That Crashes

This troubleshooting trek revealed the hard truth: Jam (v0.3.0) and Bitcoin Knots (v29.1) on StartOS (v0.3.5.1) don’t mix. The setup demands too much effort—SSH resets, beta installs, or waiting for StartOS v0.3.6 or Jam v0.4.0 to hopefully fix things. Test changes in a sandbox, and if errors persist, share logs on the Start9 forum—the community’s sharp, and a fix might be just around the corner.

How to create an SSH key for StartOS

Securely Accessing Your StartOS Server via SSH  🔐

If you're running a StartOS server and need to dive into advanced configuration or troubleshooting, SSH (Secure Shell) is your go-to tool. This guide walks you through the simple, three-step process to set up secure SSH access from your Linux machine on the same local network. Its a similar process for Windows and Mac.

Why Use SSH with StartOS?

SSH allows you to access your StartOS server's command-line interface securely, enabling tasks like system maintenance, service configuration, or debugging. By using key-based authentication, you ensure that only authorized devices (like your Linux machine) can connect, keeping your server safe from unauthorized access.

Let’s get started with generating an SSH key pair, registering it with StartOS, and connecting to your server!

Step 1: Generate Your SSH Key Pair on Linux 🔑

An SSH key pair is your digital credential for secure access. You’ll generate this on your Linux machine, keeping the private key secret and sharing the public key with your StartOS server.

Create the Key Pair

1. Open a Terminal on Linux (press Ctrl + Alt + T or search for "Terminal").
2. Run the following command to generate a key pair using the secure Ed25519 algorithm:

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519
   

3. When prompted for a file location, press Enter to accept the default path: ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.
4. You’ll be asked to set a passphrase. For added security, enter a strong passphrase (or press Enter twice to skip, though this is less secure).

This creates two files in your ~/.ssh/ directory:

• id_ed25519: Your private key—never share this!
• id_ed25519.pub: Your public key, safe to share with StartOS.

Start the SSH Agent

To avoid entering your passphrase repeatedly, use the SSH agent to manage your key.

1. Start the SSH agent in the background:

   eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
   

2. Add your private key to the agent:

   ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
   

   If you set a passphrase, enter it now. You’ll only need to do this once per session.

Step 2: Register Your Public Key in the StartOS Dashboard 💻

Next, you’ll add your Linux machine’s public key to your StartOS server via its web interface.

Copy the Public Key

1. In your Linux Terminal, display your public key:

   cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
   

   This outputs a single line starting with ssh-ed25519, followed by a long string and a comment (e.g., user@your_computer).
2. Copy the entire line carefully, including the comment.

Add the Key to StartOS

1. Open your web browser and log in to your StartOS Dashboard (usually accessible at your server’s IP address, e.g., http://192.168.1.xxx).
2. Navigate to System > SSH in the dashboard.
3. Click the “Add New Key” button.
4. Paste the copied public key into the provided text field.
5. Click Submit to save the key.

Your StartOS server now recognizes your Linux machine as an authorized client!

Step 3: Connect to Your StartOS Server via SSH 🔗

With the key registered, you’re ready to connect to your StartOS server using its IP address.

1. Find Your StartOS IP Address:

   • In the StartOS dashboard, go to System > About.
   • Locate the IPv4 address for your active network interface (e.g., eno1), typically something like 192.168.1.xxx.

2. In your Linux Terminal, connect to StartOS using the default username start9:

   ssh start9@<SERVER-IP-ADDRESS>
   

   Replace <SERVER-IP-ADDRESS> with your server’s IP (e.g., ssh start9@192.168.1.100).

3. The first time you connect, you’ll be prompted to accept the server’s host fingerprint. Type yes and press Enter.

Congratulations! You’re now securely logged into your StartOS command-line interface.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Connection Refused: Ensure the StartOS server’s SSH service is running and port 22 is open. Check your local network firewall settings on both Linux and StartOS.
• Permission Denied: Verify that the public key was correctly pasted into the StartOS dashboard (no extra spaces or missing characters). Ensure the key starts with ssh-ed25519.
• IP Address Issues: Confirm the StartOS server’s IP using the dashboard or by pinging it (ping 192.168.1.xxx). If your network uses dynamic IPs, ensure the address hasn’t changed.
• Passphrase Prompts: If you’re repeatedly asked for your passphrase, ensure the SSH agent is running and your key is added (ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519).

Wrapping Up

You’ve now set up secure, key-based SSH access to your StartOS server from your Linux machine. This setup ensures robust security and convenient access for managing your server. Whether you’re tweaking services, checking logs, or performing advanced configurations, SSH gives you full control right from your terminal.

Happy server management, and stay secure! 🔒