Bitcoin Software Steward Ends Heated Code Debate: Here's Why

• Recent Developments Regarding Bitcoin's Open-Source Software Amendment Proposal
• Role of Ava Chow in the Discussion
• A Critical Inquiry into Bitcoin's Blockchain Governance
• Ava Chow's Justification for Closing the Proposal
• On Independent Decision Making and Feedback

Recent Developments Regarding Bitcoin's Open-Source Software Amendment Proposal

The saga of Bitcoin$42,260 -0.64% developer Luke Dashjr's proposal to amend crucial open-source software has been unfolding over the past week. This proposed change would have significantly limited the use of data-oriented applications like Ordinals inscriptions, sometimes referred to as NFTs on Bitcoin.

Role of Ava Chow in the Discussion

A few days ago, Ava Chow, a Blockstream developer and maintainer of the popular Bitcoin Core software, closed the discussion concerning the proposal on the GitHub platform. After a series of questions were sent to her, Chow responded with a detailed statement. She requested that if quoted, the statements be used in full and with context.

A Critical Inquiry into Bitcoin's Blockchain Governance

What makes this case particularly important is the crucial question it raises - who decides which transactions are suitable for the $900 billion blockchain and which ones are not? It's a fundamental question that new investors in bitcoin ETFs might need to consider at some point.

Ava Chow's Justification for Closing the Proposal

Chow candidly answered our questions regarding her decision to close the proposal, formally known as a pull request or PR. In her response, she shared that the PR was controversial and couldn't reach a conclusion that would be agreeable to all. Therefore, PRs that are unlikely to achieve consensus should be closed. She further stated that the PR only generated noise and was disruptive to developers.

On Independent Decision Making and Feedback

The decision to close the PR was taken independently by Chow, following review comments from long-time contributors against the PR, suggesting it be closed. The criticisms suggested that the PR, in its current state, was potentially harmful.

Upon closure of the PR, feedback and comments emerged from both sides of the argument within the Bitcoin community. Dashjr, who initially proposed the PR, claimed that the PR was "inappropriately" closed. As the one who closed the PR, Chow disagreed with this assertion, while acknowledging everyone's right to their opinion.

Edited by Jonathan Stoker