Samson Moe: Bitcoin software poses a threat to the future of the cryptocurrency

JAN3 CEO and former Blockstream chief strategist Samson Moe has warned that the core Bitcoin Core software used by most Bitcoin nodes BTC $109,250.94 Bitcoin -0.12% Market capitalization $2.17 trillion VOL. 24 hours $1.6 billion poses a threat to the future of the cryptocurrency. Moe’s remark came after a detailed discussion by developer James O’Byrne, who drew attention to the risks associated with Bitcoin Core’s monopoly position in the bitcoin ecosystem.

James O’Byrne stated that although Bitcoin users are technically free to change the software, in practice it is almost impossible due to the deep integration of the Core into exchanges, businesses, and node infrastructure. This situation creates high technical, operational, and social barriers to switching to alternative solutions.

Mo echoed O’Byrne’s criticism, arguing that over-reliance on a single customer goes against the basic principles of decentralization that underpin Bitcoin. He emphasized that too much trust and control centered around Bitcoin Core could threaten the flexibility and openness of the protocol.

This controversy calls into question whether Bitcoin will be able to maintain its decentralized nature if the vast majority relies on just one software client. While Bitcoin Core has historically focused on security, its dominance, critics argue, could stifle innovation and create potential vulnerabilities.

The debate, which involves influential figures such as Mow and O’Byrne, could influence how future developers and node operators approach client diversity and the long-term sustainability of Bitcoin.