Controversial Bitcoin developer Gloria Zhao steps down as Core maintainer

Gloria Zhao, a prolific Bitcoin developer, has stepped down as a Bitcoin Core maintainer after three and a half years in the role.

On Thursday, Zhao submitted a pull request to the Bitcoin GitHub repository, removing herself as one of six people able to push updates to the software that underpins much of the $1.3 trillion blockchain.

It’s not clear what specifically motivated Zhao to step down. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

During her time developing Bitcoin, she primarily worked on improving network efficiency, reliability, and resistance to specific attacks and inefficiencies.

Ongoing schism

Her resignation comes amid an ongoing schism in the Bitcoin development community surrounding OP_RETURN, a script opcode that allows users to embed non-monetary data into transactions.

Proponents, which include the Bitcoin Core maintainers, argue that users were already using workarounds to include non-financial data in transactions.

Other supporters say removing limits helps address emerging use cases such as layer-2 proofs, sidechains, and decentralised apps.

Yet critics oppose the idea because it shifts Bitcoin from a purely financial technology to a general-purpose data blockchain, a change they fundamentally disagree with.

In June, Zhao was criticised over her decision to finalise a change to Bitcoin Core that would relax filters on non-financial transactions.

Bitcoin Core is the most popular software for accessing the Bitcoin blockchain; it accounts for around 77% of all nodes, so when one of its features changes, it’s a big deal.

Mixed reactions

Zhao’s departure has drawn mixed reactions from Bitcoin developers and users.

“Gloria Zhao’s resignation marks the overdue end of a corrosive tenure defined by reckless protocol changes,” Justin Bechler, a prominent critic of Bitcoin Core, said on X.

Zhao’s stepping down was widely celebrated among those who are critical of expanding Bitcoin transactions beyond purely financial uses.

Yet others are mourning the loss of a dedicated Bitcoin contributor.

“Congratulations you finally did it. You bullied one of Bitcoin Core’s most prolific and consistently excellent maintainers until she gave up,” Chris Seedor, whose company makes Bitcoin wallet backup devices, said on X.

Many of Zhao’s supporters say that alleged harassment from some of her critics, coupled with the toxic environment surrounding the OP_RETURN debate, contributed to her resignation.

“This doesn’t make Bitcoin safer,” Seedor said.

“It makes it poorer, thinner, and less secure because you just taught the people who carry the protocol that sustained harassment is the price of competence.”

Tim Craig is DL News’ Edinburgh-based DeFi Correspondent. Reach out with tips at tim@dlnews.com.