Key Takeaways
- The BIP-110 chain has remained stuck at block 961,633 as Bitcoin’s primary network advanced to block 961,744, creating a 111-block disparity
- During the prior signaling window, just 51 blocks out of 2,016 indicated support for BIP-110 (2.53%), with no blocks signaling after the enforcement phase started
- Both blocks on the BIP-110 chain were discovered by an anonymous mining collective known as Roughnecks through Ocean’s DATUM framework
- Strategy’s Michael Saylor calculated that approximately 99.85% of network hashrate remained loyal to the original chain
- With existing hashpower distribution, the alternative chain might require roughly 25 years before hitting its initial difficulty recalibration
The Bitcoin network’s BIP-110 alternative chain has come to a virtual standstill following the creation of merely two blocks. This enforcing branch froze at block 961,633 since this past Saturday, even as Bitcoin’s primary blockchain proceeded without disruption.
By Sunday afternoon, the divergence between these parallel chains had expanded to 111 blocks, growing from 88 blocks earlier that same day. The BIP-110 side has seen no additional block production for approximately 17 hours.
This chain division occurred when BIP-110 transitioned into its enforcement stage at block 961,632 on August 8. Network nodes implementing this proposal started declining blocks that failed to indicate approval via version bit 4.
An anonymous mining coalition identifying as Roughnecks generated both existing BIP-110 blocks utilizing Ocean’s DATUM mining infrastructure. Ocean’s BIP-110 connection displayed approximately 257 PH/s of processing capacity, yet no additional block has materialized.
Backing for this proposal remained minimal before enforcement commenced. Within the preceding 2,016-block difficulty epoch, merely 51 blocks signaled BIP-110 approval, representing 2.53%. Following the enforcement window’s activation, the prevailing chain has recorded zero supporting signals across 113 generated blocks.
Understanding Why the Alternative Chain Cannot Progress
The fundamental obstacle stems from Bitcoin’s difficulty recalibration mechanism. When the split occurred, the BIP-110 branch carried over identical mining difficulty from the primary chain, presently established at 127.48 trillion. With minimal computational power targeting the enforcing branch, discovering new blocks requires substantially longer than Bitcoin’s designed ten-minute target.
Difficulty recalibration exclusively triggers upon completing an entire 2,016-block cycle. Given that the BIP-110 branch has generated only two blocks within the current cycle, approximately 2,000 additional blocks must be mined before any difficulty reduction occurs.
Strategy’s executive chairman Michael Saylor calculated on X that roughly 99.85% of Bitcoin’s computational capacity remained committed to the primary chain. His estimates further suggest that with 0.15% of Bitcoin’s hashpower, the alternative chain might need approximately 25 years to complete its initial difficulty adjustment. These figures represent Saylor’s personal calculations.
Saylor had earlier expressed alignment with BIP-110’s objectives while opposing its implementation approach, contending it jeopardized Bitcoin’s impartial consensus framework. Blockstream’s CEO Adam Back cautioned that this modification could undermine Bitcoin’s reliability and potentially render certain transaction outputs unusable.
Advocates of BIP-110, including Bitcoin Knots steward Luke Dashjr, have maintained the fork addresses critical needs to restrict non-financial data accumulation within Bitcoin blocks.
Transaction Replay Vulnerability Persists for Existing Holders
An additional practical challenge exists for individuals possessing Bitcoin predating the fork event. BIP-110 lacks integrated replay safeguards. Bitcoin developer Kevin Loaec cautioned that transacting coins on the minority chain without first isolating balances could inadvertently replicate those transactions on the dominant chain.
Enforcement signaling extends through block 963,647 according to the BIP-110 schedule. The protocol specifies entering a locked-in condition at block 963,648, with activation following one difficulty cycle afterward. While these benchmarks remain accessible for the primary chain, they stay considerably distant for the stagnant BIP-110 branch.
Technical contributors associated with this initiative have additionally developed fallback code addressing a potential proof-of-work algorithm modification. No implementation timeline has been announced.
As of Sunday afternoon, the BIP-110 branch remained at two blocks total, with the dominant chain showing zero supporting signals throughout the new difficulty cycle.
Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks
Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis.
- Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies
- Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders
- Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
