-
Since February, although Bitcoin Core is still the favorite software, he lost 250 operators.
-
A debate on modifications in Bitcoin Core and its qualities would be promoting this trend.
A technical debate has taken strength among the most prominent developers of Bitcoin (BTC), focused on a proposal that seeks to modify the Bitcoin Core software.
The discussion, reported by cryptootics, revolves around the possible elimination of the limit of 83 bytes in the OP_RETURN transactions and the authorization of multiple operations of that type by transaction in Bitcoin Core, with a standardized format.
The defenders, among whom are many participants of great relevance in this ecosystem, argue, among other ideas, that these changes would better reflect the current uses of the network, while the opponents point out that this circumstance would affect the essence of Bitcoin conceived by Satoshi Nakamoto.
Jameson LOPP and Peter Todd, renowned Bitcoin developers, have indicated that those who disagree with these modifications have the option of resorting to alternative implementations, such as Bitcoin Knots.
In coincidence with that context, data demonstrates a remarkable change: a growing number of operators of nodes is opting for knotswhile Bitcoin Core experiences a slight decrease.
Bitcoin Core against Knots: A technical choice
Bitcoin Core is the main implementation of the bitcoin protocol, used by most of the nodes that validate transactions and ensure the integrity of the network. At the moment There are almost 22,000 nodes, of which 20,700 are Bitcoin Core operatorsaccording to Coin.dance data. An overwhelming majority.
Bitcoin Knots, meanwhile, is a bifurcation of CORE, led mainly by developer Luke Dashjr since 2011. Although he shares the same technical base and respects Bitcoin’s consensus rules, Knots introduces additional features, as more strict Mempol policies that allow operators to filter transactions with data considered that they consider unnecessary. A difference that resonates in the current debate on op_return.
Both softwares are compatible with the Bitcoin Network, but Knots appeals to those looking for a more restrictive posture Faced with the data that circulate in the Bitcoin file. The choice between one or the other does not alter the operation of the network, but reflects technical and philosophical preferences on how it should be managed.
A trend in nodes
According to the Cindance site, the number of nodes operating Bitcoin Knots has grown up since September/October 2024, going from 220 to 840 in April 2025. That is, in the last 8 months, that increase is equivalent to more than 280%.
As for Bitcoin Core nodes, since last September they increased from 18,900 to 20,720, A rise of almost 10%. This trend denotes Knots, at least today, is gaining ground.
At the same time, core is registered A reduction of approximately 250 nodes since February 2025a decrease that, although moderate, coincides with the discussions about the proposed changes for op_return. In that same period, Knots went from 480 nodes to 820. That is, in recent weeks, while Bitcoin Core lost 250 operators, those of Knots They grew almost 50%.
The proposal to more flexible OP_RETURN rules has generated concern among some operators, which fear an increase in non -financial data stored in the network, which would raise storage and processing requirements. In this scenario, Knots, with its most selective approach, seems to be attracting those who prioritize a more granular control over transactions that their nodes validate.
Perspectives from the network
A miner, which in X calls himself Singgekino_miner, offered his position for this migration: «Knots’ participation is growing more and more, along with the increase in the power of Oceanpool and Datum hash, which will definitely make the blocks full of data more difficult to undermine.
These words suggest that the increase in Knots could be linked to mining pools such as Ocean, which prioritize transactions with less attached data. In doing so, these pools could be indirectly encouraging the use of Knots, whose configuration makes it difficult to include blocks with heavy data.
However, the publication of that user Enter an ideological nuance That not all operators share, and the real impact of these dynamics on mining is yet to be defined.
Another X user contributed a technical vision: «That the miners include spam does not make Mempool filters useless. The nodes still reject what they do not want to retransmit or see. Miners are only service providers; The network is what the complete nodes accept. Knots maintains power with users, where it belongs ».
This comment underlines a key principle of Bitcoin: the complete nodes, by validating and deciding which transactions to propagate, reinforce the rules of consensus, ensuring that the network reflects what the operators collectively accept. Knots, by allowing operators to filter unwanted data, points to greater autonomy, which could explain His growing adoption in a moment of uncertainty on the proposed modifications.
The migration to Bitcoin Knots does not indicate a massive abandonment of Bitcoin Core, which remains the predominant option. However, the increase of nodes with Knots and the slight fall of Core reflect how technical debates, such as Op_return, influence the decisions of the operators.