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A blockchain scan tests whether Bitcoin contains images

The study used Bitcoin Core on a 4-terabyte disk and reported syncing the full chain in about 72 hours before running image-recovery software.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Market Structure

Bitcoin Magazine published a study that claims to test the claim that the Bitcoin blockchain contains image data, using an image-recovery approach rather than relying on online commentary about “content on the blockchain.” The author says the scan was prompted by debates over arbitrary data and “non-monetary transactions” on the network.

The methodology described in the piece involved buying a new 4-terabyte hard drive and installing the latest Bitcoin Core to sync and verify the full blockchain. The author reports the sync process took about 72 hours, supported by the idea that Bitcoin Core downloads and verifies the accounting integrity of transactions.

After syncing, the author said they ran PhotoRec, an open-source image recovery tool that searches raw data for image file types. The piece frames the goal as understanding what “images on the blockchain” could mean for ordinary node operators trying to run a full node and maintain financial sovereignty.

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