Bitcoin Ordinals proponents say a policy change to restrict Ordinals and Runes transactions could prompt a fork of Bitcoin Core; Leonidas warned that developers or node operators who censor these non-financial data transactions risk splitting the network and pushing users toward alternative clients.
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Fork threat if Ordinals/Runes are censored
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Bitcoin Knots adoption climbed from 67 to over 4,380 nodes year‑over‑year, signaling growing alternative client use
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Ordinals and Runes contributed an estimated $500M+ in transaction fees, per community data cited
Bitcoin Ordinals: Leonidas warns a Bitcoin Core fork is possible if Ordinals and Runes are censored — read implications for miners, node diversity and fees.
Bitcoin Ordinals leader Leonidas said his community would fork Bitcoin Core if developers reversed the upcoming update that allows for more Ordinals and Runes transactions.
What is the dispute over Bitcoin Ordinals and Runes?
Bitcoin Ordinals and Runes transactions embed media and data onchain, which some developers call spam and want ignored or blocked by validator policy. Supporters argue these transactions increase fee revenue and strengthen security; opponents argue they consume blockspace and should have “no place in the timechain.”
A Bitcoin Ordinals developer has publicly warned the community that, if developers or major node implementers attempt to censor or tighten policy against Ordinals and Runes, grassroots funding could support an open-source fork of Bitcoin Core to preserve censorship resistance.
Source: Leonidas
How could developers’ policy changes trigger a Bitcoin Core fork?
Leonidas said any policy reversal that limits Ordinals or Runes would set a “dangerous precedent” and could prompt decisive action, including funding a fork that removes restrictive policy rules. He suggested that thousands of nodes could run such a fork to ensure continued onchain media and data transactions.
Blockstream CEO Adam Back and others — including Luke Dashjr and Dennis Porter — have publicly criticized Ordinals-style data transactions as spam and argued they should not be prioritized by node policy. That disagreement is central to whether the community accepts changes ahead of Bitcoin Core v30.
Why is Bitcoin Knots growing as an alternative client?
Bitcoin Knots has seen meaningful growth as users seek clients with different policy defaults. Nodes increased from 67 in March 2024 to over 4,380 today, now representing more than 18% of visible nodes, indicating community-driven diversification around client choices.
What are the economic stakes for miners and network security?
Supporters point to fee revenue: the Ordinals and Runes ecosystems have reportedly contributed over $500 million in transaction fees, which helps offset declining block subsidies over long term halvings. Leonidas said miners representing over 50% of hash rate indicated willingness to accept transactions that pay competitive fees.
However, Ordinals fee income is variable. Dune Analytics data shows extreme seasonality: a daily record of $9.99 million on Dec. 16, 2023, but much smaller daily totals in 2025, including a reported $3,060 on Aug. 31 and no 2025 day yet surpassing $1 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could a fork actually split Bitcoin?
A fork is technically feasible if a substantial portion of the network adopts alternative client rules; practical splitting depends on user, miner and exchange support. Economic coordination and miner acceptance determine whether two chains persist or one becomes dominant.
What is the Bitcoin Core v30 change affecting OP_RETURN?
Bitcoin Core v30 is scheduled to remove the 80‑byte limit on OP_RETURN, enabling larger onchain media storage and enabling more Ordinals/Runes-style transactions unless policy is tightened or nodes choose different defaults.
How much have Ordinals and Runes contributed to miner fees?
Community-cited totals estimate over $500 million in cumulative fees from Ordinals and Runes; daily fee contribution is highly volatile and shows clear seasonality, per Dune Analytics and network fee reports.
Key Takeaways
- Fork threat is credible: Leonidas and supporters say they will fund a fork if censorship occurs.
- Client diversity is rising: Bitcoin Knots now represents a notable share of visible nodes.
- Economic impact is mixed: Ordinals/Runes add fees but with unpredictable daily totals; long‑term security effects depend on sustained fee revenue.
Conclusion
The dispute over Bitcoin Ordinals and Runes transactions highlights tensions between node policy, client diversity and network economics. With Bitcoin Core v30 approaching and measurable shifts toward alternative clients, the community faces a pivotal governance choice that may determine whether censorship-resistant data transactions remain viable onchain. Monitor node adoption, miner signals and client releases for next steps.
