Bitcoin BLAKE2b fork faces Sept. 1 test after 2.53% miner support

Bitcoin's BLAKE2b fork faces a Sept. 1 launch test after the BIP-110 minority branch stalled at 2.53% miner support, producing just two blocks.

Ripple co-founder David Schwartz challenged BIP-110 supporter Loogart on X on Aug. 31, rejecting the framing that supporters were trying to "fix the legacy chain." "Listen to yourself," Schwartz wrote, arguing that language portraying one side as broken moved the discussion away from good-faith disagreement.

The proposed network replaces Bitcoin's SHA-256d mining algorithm with BLAKE2b, requiring new hardware and removing dependence on existing Bitcoin miners. No major exchange, wallet, or Lightning implementation has committed support. A rehearsal was arranged before the planned launch, with a successful test potentially preserved in a Bitcoin Knots 29.4.1 release.

The practical effect on BTC depends on whether the breakaway network attracts miners, developers, wallets, and trading venues after launch. Until then, claims that it will replace or materially threaten Bitcoin remain disputed forecasts rather than established outcomes.

The original BIP-110 specification proposed a temporary soft fork restricting methods used to place nonfinancial data on Bitcoin, including limits on large OP_RETURN outputs and contiguous arbitrary data exceeding 256 bytes. Supporters argued those restrictions would reduce storage demands on node operators. Critics maintained that transaction fees and node policies should determine how block space is used.

The BLAKE2b network is a separate hard fork with a different proof-of-work system and its own resulting asset. Existing Bitcoin mining equipment is designed specifically for SHA-256 and cannot automatically redirect computing power to the new algorithm. Some machines designed for Sia's version of BLAKE2b may be compatible.

The date should be described as a target rather than an irreversible activation deadline. Technical problems could require another release candidate and a reset to the last SHA-256 block. Reports published before the rehearsal indicated that the final mainnet activation height had not been settled.

In related coverage, Luke Dashjr left OCEAN after disagreements over Bitcoin mining and recent protocol developments. OCEAN repurchased his equity after he resigned as chairman, chief technology officer, and director. OCEAN's hashrate fell 96 percent in August after the pool routed customer power to the minority chain for about 18 hours.

Bitcoin holders face replay and support questions. If transactions remain valid on both networks, a payment broadcast on one chain could potentially be repeated on the other unless users separate their coins or employ other safeguards. Wallets and infrastructure providers may also require technical changes, as the proposed network uses BLAKE2b block headers that differ from Bitcoin's current format.

Bitcoin traded near $77,655, down 0.59 percent on the day, having gained 23.3 percent this month. Hashrate has drifted lower all year as miners leave the network for artificial intelligence contracts, thinning the pool of machines any breakaway chain could recruit.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.