Bitcoin BIP-110 supporters target September 1 for BLAKE2b fork
After a failed attempt to enforce BIP-110 rules on the main Bitcoin network, a group of developers is pivoting toward a separate proof-of-work chain. Scheduled for a September 1 launch, this breakaway network replaces Bitcoin’s standard SHA-256 algorithm with BLAKE2b, effectively detaching the project from established mining infrastructure.
The original BIP-110 proposal sought to implement soft-fork restrictions on arbitrary data within the blockchain to preserve storage efficiency. However, the initiative stalled in August after securing only 2.53% of miner support, leading to a minority branch that struggled to produce blocks. With major exchanges, wallet providers, and Lightning Network implementations showing no public commitment to the project, the new chain faces significant hurdles regarding liquidity and infrastructure.
Technical friction has also surfaced outside the development community. A public disagreement erupted on August 31 between BIP-110 supporter Loogart and Ripple co-founder David Schwartz. The dispute centered on the framing of the fork, with Schwartz rejecting the notion that the breakaway group was attempting to "fix" the legacy Bitcoin network, labeling such rhetoric as a departure from good-faith debate.
Because the proposed network utilizes BLAKE2b headers, it is incompatible with existing Bitcoin mining hardware and software. Developers have positioned the September 1 date as a target rather than a guaranteed launch, noting that technical complications could force a reset to the last SHA-256 block. Furthermore, the absence of clear replay protection means that users may face significant risks if they attempt to transact across both the legacy chain and the new fork without proper safeguards.
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