Hi guys with the recent pump of block size, let's talk decreasing the blocksize to 500KB or less
positives :
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decreased bandwith requirements (allows broadcasting new blocks with low cost / low key medium like a radio, bluetooth meshnets)
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decreased storage requirements (if we have constant 4MB blocks it would mean ~200GB per year, it's a cost specialy for noobs in the Global South that hesitate running a node)
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decreased CPU workload for verifying signatures (easier to run bitcoin on cheap devices, edge computing hardware)
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increased block space scarcity (drive fees up, increase L2 research, signature aggregation research)
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easy to implement and to stay in sync with old nodes
negatives:
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new nodes still required to download old big blocks (can't spin up a new node with very low bandwith anyway)
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expensive on-chain payments / coinjoins / utxo management (specialy for less privileged people)
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potential community split
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doesn't stop arbitrary data on-chain
OP_RETURN
. It’s pretty difficult to prevent people from publishing arbitrary data on the blockchain while also keeping a flexible scripting system around.