Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3, has called for a fork of Bitcoin Core in response to the controversial OP_RETURN policy changes, stating it's time to “fix misaligned incentives and fund devs with a better structure.” The proposal has added fuel to the ongoing debate within the bitcoin community, which some are already calling the “Core Wars.”
Background: The OP_RETURN Policy Shift
Bitcoin Core's upcoming update plans to lift guardrails on OP_RETURN transactions, allowing more non-monetary data to be embedded on the blockchain. Proponents argue this aligns with Bitcoin's ethos of permissionless innovation, but critics, including Mow, warn it encourages spam and undermines Bitcoin's primary function as a monetary network. The change has also increased adoption of alternative node software, Bitcoin Knots, which now accounts for approximately 1,868 of the roughly 21,767 public Bitcoin nodes.
Mow's Forking Proposal
Speaking on a recent podcast, Mow explained that the current “core wars” surrounding OP_RETURN justify creating a fork of Bitcoin Core to “provide a different way forward.” He outlined a vision of taking the existing codebase and establishing a new funding mechanism that issues grants to developers for maintenance and development. “If there is economic power saying bitcoin is money, then this is how you could show it,” Mow stressed, emphasizing that the hypothetical fork would have a better charter and overall structure.
Mow also recommended that developers working on the fork remain anonymous, ensuring they are motivated by contribution to bitcoin rather than personal glory. Previously, he had suggested blacklisting developers acting “in bad faith” from conferences and denying funding to organizations supporting “contentious changes.”
Community Response and Future Outlook
Mow's proposal has not yet garnered widespread developer support, but it highlights deep divisions over Bitcoin's governance and technical direction. The rise of Knots nodes signals that some operators are already voting with their infrastructure. Whether a formal fork will materialize remains uncertain, but the conversation itself reflects growing frustration with the current development process. As the Core Wars continue, the bitcoin community faces pivotal decisions about how to balance innovation, decentralization, and the integrity of the monetary network.