Bitcoin Governance Crisis: Samson Mow Warns Bitcoin Core Now a Risk to BTC
Introduction: Is Bitcoin's Decentralization at Risk from Within?
The Bitcoin community is no stranger to debate, but a recent firestorm has ignited concerns over the very software that powers the majority of the network—Bitcoin Core. Once considered the gold standard for operating a node, Bitcoin Core is now facing sharp criticism from within the ecosystem itself.
Samson Mow, former Chief Strategy Officer at Blockstream and now CEO of JAN3, made headlines this week by declaring that “Bitcoin Core has become a risk to Bitcoin.” This statement comes amidst a wider governance debate involving key developers, node operators, and businesses who are grappling with what the future of Bitcoin development should look like — and who truly holds the power.
The Root of the Dispute: Bitcoin's Software Governance
The issue began with a proposed change to Bitcoin’s codebase—specifically, removing the 83-byte data limit in the OP_RETURN field. This would allow larger data payloads to be included in transactions without altering consensus rules. Supporters saw it as a harmless and even helpful update for innovation. Critics, however, worried it could open the door to blockchain bloat, spam transactions, and a drift from Bitcoin’s monetary focus.
While this might sound like a small technical tweak, it quickly exposed deeper concerns about Bitcoin’s governance model, the influence of Bitcoin Core, and the difficulty in making or resisting changes at the software level.
Why Bitcoin Core Dominance Is Raising Eyebrows
Bitcoin Core is the primary reference implementation of the Bitcoin protocol. Most full nodes run it by default, and for good reason — it’s secure, extensively reviewed, and battle-tested. However, that very dominance is becoming a point of contention.
Developer James O’Beirne recently argued that Bitcoin Core has “sticky power.” According to him, most companies and individuals stick with it not out of ideological loyalty, but because switching away is difficult, risky, and expensive. There are alternatives like Bitcoin Knots, but they lack Core’s traction and trust.
This sparked a response from Jameson Lopp, a prominent Bitcoin advocate, who defended the idea of user sovereignty: that anyone can run whatever version of the software they want. Lopp's take — "Sovereignty is a mindset" — implies that Bitcoin users don’t need to ask permission.
O'Beirne countered by saying this view is naive. Technically true, but practically unrealistic. His argument: most users don't have the time, resources, or technical skill to run an alternative version, and so Bitcoin Core ends up being the de facto gatekeeper of Bitcoin's future.
Samson Mow Sounds the Alarm
Building on this discussion, Samson Mow amplified O’Beirne’s concerns and pushed the argument into more serious territory. In a blunt post, Mow stated:
> “Bitcoin Core has become a risk to Bitcoin.”
This isn’t a random hot take. Coming from someone who helped shape the Bitcoin narrative at Blockstream and is now actively involved in promoting Bitcoin infrastructure with JAN3, Mow’s warning carries weight. His concern is less about the code itself and more about the centralization of influence within Bitcoin’s development ecosystem.
To Mow, Bitcoin’s strength is in its decentralization — not just in who runs the nodes, but in who contributes to the code and who makes key decisions. If Bitcoin Core becomes too powerful or too entrenched, it threatens to turn Bitcoin into something it was never meant to be: controlled, centralized, and fragile.
Bitcoin Knots: A Quiet Revolution?
One of the alternative clients gaining attention is Bitcoin Knots, a fork of Bitcoin Core maintained by Luke Dashjr. While functionally similar, it includes features and options not found in Core and has become something of a proving ground for those skeptical of Core’s dominance.
The growing interest in Knots shows that some in the community are starting to vote with their nodes. They’re not necessarily abandoning Core yet, but they are exploring options that give them more flexibility and a voice outside the Core development team.
This shift underscores a broader theme: Bitcoin is not just software—it’s a social contract. And when parts of the community feel shut out of the conversation, alternatives naturally emerge.
The Real Battle: Code vs. Governance
At its heart, this debate isn’t just about a data field or software client. It’s about governance, power, and control.
Who decides what Bitcoin should be?
What happens when a small group of developers gain outsized influence?
Can Bitcoin remain decentralized if its primary software is too sticky to escape?
These are not new questions, but they’re becoming more urgent as Bitcoin matures and institutional interest grows. The last major governance crisis—the Block Size War of 2017—led to the creation of Bitcoin Cash. Today’s fight may not lead to a fork, but it’s forcing the community to reckon with similar issues of trust, centralization, and decision-making.
Implications for Bitcoin Investors and Developers
For the average investor, these debates may seem technical or irrelevant. But they matter deeply. The stability and integrity of Bitcoin rely on open, decentralized governance and the ability to evolve without consolidating power.
If Bitcoin Core continues to dominate without challenge, there is a risk that key decisions may no longer reflect the wider community's consensus. Developers may feel excluded. Innovation could stall. And users could become overly reliant on one software implementation — exactly the kind of central point of failure Bitcoin was designed to avoid.
On the flip side, if the community responds with open discussion, experimentation, and new implementations like Bitcoin Knots, then Bitcoin may emerge from this stronger, more resilient, and more truly decentralized.
Conclusion: The Path Forward for Bitcoin Governance
The tension around Bitcoin Core is not just a developer drama — it’s a test of Bitcoin’s core values. Decentralization, sovereignty, and open participation must remain at the heart of Bitcoin’s evolution if it’s to fulfill its promise as a global, censorship-resistant monetary network.
Samson Mow’s warning may sound dramatic, but it’s a call to vigilance, not panic. The Bitcoin community must ensure that no single group or software becomes so dominant that it effectively controls the future of the protocol.
The solution isn't to abandon Core overnight, but to embrace competition, reduce reliance, and expand governance discussions beyond just the codebase. The health of the Bitcoin network depends not just on the blocks that are mined, but on the voices that are heard.
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