Saylor Warns BIP-110 Protocol Change Could Harm Bitcoin From Within

Saylor Warns BIP-110 Protocol Change Could Harm Bitcoin From Within

Michael Saylor, co-founder of Strategy, declared that Bitcoin (BTC) has secured its place as global digital capital — but warned that misguided protocol changes, specifically those tied to BIP-110, represent the most dangerous self-inflicted threat the network now faces.

BIP-110 Protocol Dispute

Saylor posted on X on Apr. 4 that BTC price action is now shaped by institutional capital flows, not halving cycles. He called the traditional four-year cycle "dead" and said bank lending and digital credit will determine Bitcoin's future trajectory.

His sharpest comment, though, targeted development risks.

Saylor described "bad ideas driving iatrogenic protocol changes" as the single greatest danger to Bitcoin — borrowing a medical term that means harm caused by treatment itself.

That remark pointed directly at BIP-110.

The proposal, introduced by developer Dathon Ohm and supported by the Bitcoin Knots team, seeks a temporary one-year soft fork that would restrict non-monetary data in Bitcoin transactions. It targets Ordinals inscriptions, BRC-20 tokens and large OP_RETURN payloads that critics say bloat the blockchain and raise costs for node operators.

The first block signaling support for BIP-110 was mined by the Ocean pool in Mar. 2026. The proposal sets a 55% hash power activation threshold — well below the 95% consensus standard traditionally used for Bitcoin upgrades.

Also Read: Bitcoin Decentralization Faces A Problem: Mining Power Tied To Just Three Nations

Adam Back's Warning

The community remains sharply divided. Supporters frame BIP-110 as a defense of Bitcoin's identity as sound money, arguing that arbitrary data competes with payments and drives up fees for ordinary users.

Blockstream CEO Adam Back took the opposite view. He warned that consensus-level restrictions could damage Bitcoin's credibility as a store of value and set a precedent for future transaction censorship.

Back wrote on X that BIP-110 restrictions are "bypassable" and that the real cost lies in innovation damage. He argued that Bitcoin's strength rests on neutral, predictable rules — and that the proposal trades that foundation for what he called a spam filter that fails at filtering spam.

Both the Bitcoin 2026 Conference and a Federal Reserve meeting are scheduled for late April, creating a concentrated period of potential catalysts for the market. The BIP-110 signaling process remains active, with a possible activation decision approaching later in 2026.

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Disclaimer and Risk Warning: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is based on the author's opinion. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and subject to high risk, including the risk of losing all or a substantial amount of your investment. Trading or holding crypto assets may not be suitable for all investors. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author(s) and do not represent the official policy or position of Yellow, its founders, or its executives. Always conduct your own thorough research (D.Y.O.R.) and consult a licensed financial professional before making any investment decision.
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