If you are talking about issues of big blocks...  I can guarantee you are thinking of someone else.  UNLESS me merely saying that I am not against conservative blocksize increases to continue to buy us time to develop on L2 systems.  But I also think this is not likely.

But ultimately I think "big blocks" are a very shortsighted goal as we would never be able to make the big enough for scaling purposes.  It's just not realistic in the slightest.  So that is not me.

As to privacy... I DO think there could be some base layer changes to enable the enhancement of privacy on HIGHER LAYERS.  We 100% absolutely CANNOT turn bitcoin into a privacy coin so to speak, on the base layer.  Period.

And I personally cannot stand the BCASHIAN arguments being made by the newer Monero proponents (as well as some of the old) with all their "read the whitepaper".  "Bitcoin has failed p2p cash!" and "NGU" screeching.


So... I really really want to see privacy for transactions above the base layer to continue to be developed.

So far there are a few viable projects in play:

Lightning
I WAS very optimistic, and still am, for lightning... but currently it has fallen WAY SHORT for the sake of privacy for two major reasons as well as some minor ones.  I still run a node and JUST updated it's storage.  I do not want to know how much I have spent doing this

1.  It is being used custodially 90%+ of the time.  This 100% destroys the privacy.  But this is what works for the common folk.
2.  Because of the complexity Lightning use is currently optimized for big use by large LSPs  It is VERY difficult to run a node well that works, and it can be quite costly to do so.  So currently lightning is thriving for people who are using it for larger scale commercial uses (exchanges, large well managed routing nodes as well as access oriented LSPs  etc.)

Also Lightning by nature only has Meh+ privacy even in the best circumstances.  You really need to be using multiple hops and MPP for it to be reasonably private.  But as a user you can make (bitcoin like) privacy booboos like sending to a channel partner (not private) routing through exactly one other node (not very private at all) etc.

Liquid
I have been saying for YEARS at this point that Liquid is a sleeper.  I really think folks are not able to see why.  The Fedarated model is wonderful, the base layer includes CT (ala Greg Maxwell with a hat tip to Monero).  It can do pretty much anything ETH can do so we can veer off into stable coins (sigh) like it seems an absolute lock that we will.  It trades SOME trust for a LOT of features.  It is a very good compromise.  But it is not battle tested AT ALL.  Simply because no one uses it.  One reason this is bad is it will reduce the anonymity that CT provides to the point it is useless... UNTIL there is significant traffic on that chain.  And it is notable that Mopnero is STILL WAY MORE private due to it's multiple approaches to obfuscation.  But if we could get traffic on Liquid we would see great privacy and  

eCash
So there are two main Chaumian models in development currently.  And Chaumian Cash is arguably PERFECT privacy.  A bearer instrument with no means of knowing who has given it to whom.

But model #1 "Cashu" is 100% CUSTODIAL.  Womp Womp.  Welcome to getting rugged.  Then again all the usual disclaimers apply.  Only store so much in a Cashu wallet as you are willing to lose. Etc.  It is a fantastic privacy model, but the custody issue makes it unattractive to those of us who want sovereignty.

Interestingly it DOES integrate with Lightning in cool ways which make it more flexible and increases on/offramp privacy.  

Model #2 "Fedimint" might be a step closer to what we wand by distributing custody and risk...  But it is behind #1 and liquid and lightning enough to continue to be irrelevant.

Monero
THIS is what any intelligent person SHOULD USE if they want to buy their pressed "benzos" (really Fent with food coloring) off the dark web.  And yes... there is a bit of irony there.  I am super sensitive to it since almost all the Bitcoin I hold was bitcoin I WON playing poker against many of the early devs and OGs (autistic fuckers who likely mostly beat me) and people buying and selling on Silk Road who had some extra coins to gamble online with (my "patrons").

It's privacy continues to be pretty much unrivaled, and its network effect is massive.

But it is also a L1 BLOCKCHAIN so if used seriously will ALWAYS be bloating to the point of centralization which comes with analysis risks.

AND you have a shared issue amongst all L2 solutions as well as shitcoins like Monero.  On/Offramp exposure.  "Ah.. Mr. cAPSLOCK... we see you bought some monero and then a few days later bought a bit less bitcoin back with Monero therefore we can conclude somewhat that you did something illegal in the meantime".  Even though it was likely just to pay my Mullvad bill.

So... as usual it is tradeoffs all the way down.

I want to see L2 solutions for Bitcoin to rival Monero to the point you can kill yourself with various "research chemicals" as anonymously as you can with Monero.

Until that point?  Monero is still winning.

So THAT is my position as of 2/25.  Perhaps in five years when I am babbling about some new position I take you should have this post bookmarked to prove thjat I am changing my tune...

There ya go.

I stand ready for my batslap.