Samson Mow - KNOTS vs CORE

Sep 15, 2025

Samson Mow, CEO of Jan3 and a key advocate for nation-state Bitcoin adoption, dives into the fiery debate between Bitcoin's Core and KNOTS implementations. He clarifies the implications of recent changes in development, discusses the controversial OpReturn feature, and highlights community concerns around spam and transparency. Mow also emphasizes the importance of running a node for greater monetary sovereignty and the need for inclusivity in Bitcoin's evolution, offering practical insights for both seasoned and new users.

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INSIGHT

Dominance Creates Risk

Bitcoin Core is the dominant reference implementation and that dominance creates centralization risk if maintainers act poorly.
Samson warns that blind loyalty to Core has fractured trust and pushed users toward alternatives.

INSIGHT

Trust Fractures Trigger Schism

The schism began when Core maintainers blocked contributors and treated public discussion as already decided.
Samson argues that perceived echo chambers and manufactured consent shattered trust in Core.

INSIGHT

Defaults Matter More Than They Seem

Core v30's OpReturn change lifts data limits and removes easy default controls, prompting pushback.
Samson sees changing defaults for external projects as a slippery slope that signals priorities misaligned with many users.

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