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Luke Dahsjr, developer of the Knots Bitcoin full node software, is reportedly considering a hard fork that would allow a quorum to change Bitcoin transaction data deemed illicit. The fork would substitute this data with ZKPs, potentially setting the bases for systemic censorship.
Knots Dev Luke Dashjr Allegedly Involved in Plan to ‘Save Bitcoin’ With Hard Fork
The OP_RETURN controversy, which pits bitcoiners in favor of lifting the guardrails to allow non-monetary data into the Bitcoin blockchain against those opposing it, has evolved into a new phase. Luke Dashjr, the main developer behind Knots, a full node software alternative to Bitcoin Core, is reportedly behind a movement to “save Bitcoin” via a hard fork.
In private messages revealed to The Rage, Dashjr is seen discussing the possibility of changes that would allow a select group of people to decide to change potentially illegal data from Bitcoin. This data would be substituted by Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) after being flagged by this quorum of people, setting the stage for potential censorship.
In the messages reviewed, the developer acknowledges that this would be an extreme measure, but values the hypothetical move positively to avoid bitcoin’s death. “I mean, right now the only options would be Bitcoin dies or we have to trust someone… ZKP is strictly better,” he asseverated.
Dashjr also recognized that, technically, this would constitute a hard fork, but that since it was buried and not affecting the newest blocks, it “should be safe.”
Adam Back, legendary cryptographer, lent some credibility to the report, claiming that he was aware something similar was happening. “I heard unrelated from several contacts that Ocean was contacting pools with legal theories to try to push their corporate counsel into moderating content,” he stated, warning that Dashjr wanted to “jump straight to the censorship tech.”
Dashjr has not denied that these messages were his, after being directly confronted by other bitcoiners, including Pierre Rochard. Back claims that the messages are indeed authentic.