OP_RETURN defaults, knobs, and configuration

"I think that all of the people that I know that are working on Bitcoin Core and other Bitcoin projects are only
interested in the monetary use case. But I think that many of them take a more long term view in how that might be happening if we're trying to get towards this being not just the money for anyone, but the money for everyone."
~ Murch

In this episode, I sit down with Murch, long-time Bitcoin Core developer and co-founder of Localhost Research, for a deep and candid dive into how Bitcoin really works — not just technically, but socially and ideologically. We explore how Core contributors organize, fund, and ship software, the recent OP_RETURN debate, and the cultural divides that have surfaced around Bitcoin development.

Can the protocol stay pure and neutral while the community grows more opinionated? What does it mean when social dynamics shape technical direction? And how can open-source developers and commentators bridge the gap to keep Bitcoin strong and united?

From software releases and mempool policy to the human side of collaboration and conflict — this chat goes right to the heart of what it means to build Bitcoin.

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Guest Links

• Murch Website (Link: https://murch.one/)
• Murch on X (Link: https://x.com/cguida6)
• Murch on Github (Link: https://github.com/Murchandamus)
• Localhost Research (Link: https://lclhost.org/)

Host Links

• ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney)
• ⁠Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann)
• Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann)
• Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann)
• Guy on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann)
• ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible)
• The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839)