CoinDesk Podcast Network

BITCOIN SEASON 2: Filters Are Futile

We’re explaining why trying to filter Bitcoin is a fool’s errand.

Sep 6, 2025
Listen or watch all the new CoinDesk podcast episodes wherever you want.
Cast BoxiHeartiTunesPocket CastsRSSRadio PublicSpotify

ABOUT

We dive into the “filter debate,” dissecting why some Bitcoin purists are demanding JPEG‑free blocks and why their efforts are futile, but harmful to the bitcoin network. Fee economics, block‑size limits, real‑world examples, and the clash between censorship resistance and arbitrary data.

Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com

Notes:

Block size capped ~4 MB (~250 GB/yr)

$600 M+ spent on ordinal fees

Knots rose from 5 % to 18 %

30/25 000 nodes filtered in early test

100 % filtered nodes still ineffective

Fee market drives transaction inclusion

Timestamps:

00:00 Start

02:54 Letter Analogy

05:40 Nations censoring transactions

07:16 Spam

16:16 JPEGS

18:03 Block size

19:12 Death to JPEGS

20:32 IBD (initial block download)

26:11 But we are filtering X transactions!

27:24 First principles

34:36 Oh Luke... so disappointing..

-

👋Bitcoin Season 2 is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech!

Enjoy the show? Check out our website and newsletter by clicking here.

Questions or want to sponsor? [email protected]


Bitcoin season 2 filters are futile | Latest Cryptocurrency News, Bitcoin & Crypto Updates 2026