Why are only specific transaction types accepted into the mempool?

1

In the Bitcoin Mainnet, only specific transaction types are accepted:

Bitcoin uses a scripting language to specify (and satisfy) the encumbrances, thereby allowing a whole host of transaction types. Although many transaction types can be represented in the scripting language, only a limited number of standard transaction types are actually accepted by the network and the miners. (source)

What is the point of equipping Bitcoin with a scripting language, while only accepting a pre-defined set of transaction types? What harm could be caused to the network by accepting valid transactions with an arbitrary locking script?

thesys

Posted 2019-04-07T17:25:53.183

Reputation: 179

This information seems very outdated (or wrong).Pieter Wuille 2019-04-07T21:04:57.000

Answers

5

Any script can be used in P2SH/P2WSH technique. Using arbitrary scripts in transaction outputs cause grows of UTXO database and other problems.

amaclin

Posted 2019-04-07T17:25:53.183

Reputation: 5 763