It has been 5 years since the great consensus cleanup softfork was proposed. The majority of bitcoiners have joined after that and are likely unfamiliar with it or the some of the dramatic things that could occur without these fixes. https://bitcoinops.org/en/topics/consensus-cleanup-soft-fork/
Did you know all the remaining bitcoin could be mined within 3 weeks? If not, have a look here https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2019/03/05/#fix-the-time-warp-attack
Did you know a malicious user could create a special set of transactions that if included in a block could be so computationally expensive that it would crash many nodes on the network possibly resulting in a fork? If not, have a look here https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2019/03/05/#prevent-use-of-op-codeseparator-and-findanddelete-in-legacy-transactions
Did you know a malicious user could create a transaction of size 64 bytes and pull off a theft from many users? If not, have a look here https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2019/03/05/#forbid-transactions-64-bytes-or-smaller and here https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2019/03/05/#forbid-transactions-64-bytes-or-smaller
Did you know Bitcoin Core has the notion of standardness rules which (gasp!) filters out certain transactions? If not, have a look here https://gist.github.com/instagibbs/ee32be0126ec132213205b25b80fb3e8 and here https://bitcoinops.org/en/blog/waiting-for-confirmation/
Did you know there has been an increase in the number of non-standard transactions included in blocks recently. If not, have a look here https://b10c.me/observations/09-non-standard-transactions/
Did you know there is an increase in the number of commercial services and mining pools that are willing to include non-standard transactions? If not, have a look here https://ir.mara.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1343/marathon-digital-holdings-launches-slipstream
It is a good time to revisit it and discuss. Maybe this is the next consensus rules change instead of OP_CAT?
I listened to Shinobi on WBD yesterday and now I am scared of
OP_CAT.some discussion regarding this episode happened here
Why are you scared? Scared of bitcoin ossifying?
Yes and the other extreme of bitcoin becoming a platform as described in the episode.
This would mean it loses its focus on money and thus the due diligence required to make sure stuff doesn't break.
I share those concerns.
Yes please.
I am worried now. Just thinking!! What would it have been like if those were implemented in real...
...What's the matter now?
Yes good post 👍
https://m.stacker.news/17431
The Great Consensus Cleanup Softfork, proposed five years ago, was a significant event in the history of Bitcoin, aiming to address various vulnerabilities and inefficiencies within the protocol. While many newer Bitcoin enthusiasts might not be familiar with the details, it's crucial to understand the context and the potential consequences of not implementing such fixes.
Here's a brief overview of what the Great Consensus Cleanup Softfork aimed to address and why it was significant:
Fixing Bugs and Vulnerabilities: Over time, flaws and vulnerabilities can emerge in any software system, including Bitcoin. The softfork likely aimed to fix known bugs and vulnerabilities that could potentially compromise the security or stability of the Bitcoin network.
Improving Scalability: Scalability has been a persistent challenge for Bitcoin. The softfork might have included optimizations to improve the scalability of the network, allowing it to handle more transactions efficiently.
Enhancing Efficiency: Bitcoin's protocol could be made more efficient in various ways, such as optimizing the way transactions are processed or reducing the resources required for mining. These improvements would help make the network more sustainable in the long term.
Maintaining Consensus: Consensus is crucial for the functioning of any decentralized network like Bitcoin. The softfork likely aimed to ensure that all nodes on the network agreed on the same set of rules, preventing potential forks or disagreements that could lead to network instability.
Without these fixes, several dramatic scenarios could unfold:
Security Vulnerabilities: Unaddressed bugs and vulnerabilities could potentially be exploited by malicious actors, leading to security breaches or even the loss of funds for users.
Network Congestion: Without scalability improvements, the Bitcoin network could become congested during periods of high transaction volume, leading to slow confirmation times and higher transaction fees.
Loss of Confidence: If critical issues within the protocol are not resolved, it could erode confidence in Bitcoin as a reliable and secure store of value, leading to a loss of trust from users and investors.
Fragmentation of the Network: Disagreements over protocol changes could lead to contentious hard forks, splitting the Bitcoin network into separate chains and causing confusion and uncertainty among users.
Overall, the Great Consensus Cleanup Softfork represented a concerted effort by the Bitcoin community to address pressing issues within the protocol and ensure its continued robustness and reliability. While newer Bitcoiners may not be familiar with the specifics, understanding the importance of such efforts is essential for the long-term success and adoption of the cryptocurrency.