Andrea Castillo on Bitcoin's Long-Term Viability

If unaddressed, an arbitrary protocol quirk implemented by Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto could soon undermine the scalability and long-term viability of the cryptocurrency.

PerfectHue/Flickr

The popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin is fast approaching a critical technical challenge that will fundamentally shape the course of its future. If unaddressed, an arbitrary protocol quirk implemented by Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto as a short-term security measure could soon undermine Bitcoin's scalability, usability, and even its long-term viability. It's a bit of a complex issue, but one that Bitcoin enthusiasts should pay attention to, argues Andrea Castillo. The final outcome of this Bitcoin block size limit debate will affect how easy it will be to use Bitcoin for common everyday transactions and complex experimental transfers alike.