Pixelated Avocado at $28K Stirs Bitcoin Censorship Controversy

• Bitcoin Users' Debate on NFT-like Inscriptions
• Auction House Sotheby's Views Inscriptions as High Art
• Controversy Over Spam Filtering
• Issues of Blockchain Usage
• Sotheby's Auction Sees High Bids
• Artist Description and Auction Site's Stand

Bitcoin Users' Debate on NFT-like Inscriptions

A dispute among Bitcoin$42,260 -0.64% users and developers is ongoing, focusing on whether transactions in NFT-like inscriptions created through the Ordinals project should be filtered out. Despite not representing the primary financial use that many supporters envision for the original blockchain, these inscriptions are gaining attention in the art world.

Auction House Sotheby's Views Inscriptions as High Art

Sotheby's, a renowned auction house, has begun an online auction featuring these Ordinals inscriptions. Notably, two pixel art characters and a pixelated avocado from the BitcoinShrooms collection by the pseudonymous artist Shroomtoshi are attracting bids in the tens of thousands of dollars. According to the auction's promotional materials, the pieces capture the cryptocurrency zeitgeist through nostalgic and hyper-referential modes.

Controversy Over Spam Filtering

Recently, a contention erupted on social media concerning Ocean, a mining pool led by Block Inc. head Jack Dorsey. Ocean implemented a node software capable of filtering out several transactions involving Ordinals. Luke Dashjr, the project's overseer, refuted allegations that this equates to censorship. He asserts that the aim is to limit spam on the blockchain, rather than to restrict these transactions.

Issues of Blockchain Usage

Some Bitcoin users argue that the blockchain should permit uses beyond financial applications. Tensions heightened following a report by Bitcoin wallet Samourai stating that Ocean was also filtering its Whirlpool transactions-those processed via a coin mixer designed to enhance privacy by making the cryptocurrency difficult to trace. Dashjr replied, stating that this was a bug, not a targeted policy.

Sotheby's Auction Sees High Bids

Regardless of the ongoing debate, a digital image titled Sovereign Individual already received 27 bids in the Sotheby's auction running till Dec. 13, with the current bid standing at $50,000. This is significantly higher than the original estimate of $20,000-$30,000. Additionally, the digital avocado, BIP39 SEED, attracted bids up to $28,000, and another image reached $42,000.

Artist Description and Auction Site's Stand

The artist describes the collection as a pixelated review of Bitcoin's first 13 years, expressing a hint of nostalgia for the 90s. The Sotheby's site also stresses the Bitcoin network's underlying decentralized infrastructure, emphasizing that all assets transferable through the Bitcoin blockchain are open, neutral, censorship-resistant, and globally accessible for anyone to interact with.

Edited by Jonathan Stoker