Dashjr Raises Concerns About Bitcoin Network Vulnerability
Last week, Bitcoin developer Luke Dashjr expressed alarm about a potential vulnerability in the Bitcoin network related to Bitcoin Ordinals. While the community initially dismissed Dashjr’s warnings, the US government has taken the issue seriously and added it to its vulnerability database.
The Bug in the Bitcoin Network
Dashjr first highlighted the bug on December 6, explaining that it was linked to BTC Inscriptions, which function as Bitcoin’s version of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The Inscriptions exploit a vulnerability in Bitcoin Core, allowing developers to hide data as program code and bypass transaction size limits.
Efforts to Fix the Vulnerability
Dashjr is actively working to address this issue. Although the vulnerability was partially fixed in “Bitcoin Knots v25.1,” it remains present in the upcoming v26 release. Dashjr hopes to completely resolve the vulnerability by 2024.
Debate Within the Community
While some members of the community question whether this is a true vulnerability, Dashjr confirms that fixing it would result in Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens disappearing. The existence of these tokens already exploits the vulnerability, prompting authorities to take action to protect users from potential harm.
Hot Take: Protecting the Bitcoin Network
The inclusion of the Bitcoin network vulnerability in the US government’s database underscores its significance. As developers work towards a fix, it is crucial for the community to prioritize user safety and prevent any potential exploitation that could jeopardize their trust in cryptocurrency.