Developer Luke Dashjr, who maintains the Bitcoin Knots software, recently activated a new soft fork on his breakaway Bitcoin project. This update introduces a 45-day lock period for newly mined coins, replacing the previous standard of 100 blocks. Dashjr stated the change aims to penalize mining pool operators who process blocks without verifying transactions.
The upgrade caused a full resync requirement for some network participants. One user reported that their Raspberry Pi node could not complete the initial block download within the 45-day window. In response to the technical difficulties, Dashjr suggested the user upgrade their hardware, a comment that drew criticism from those who previously supported the fork's focus on accessible node operation.
Supporters of the fork originally championed the project through BIP-110, which sought to limit arbitrary data inscriptions on the main Bitcoin network. Proponents argued that such data made running a node too expensive for home users. Critics now point to Dashjr's recent hardware comments as a reversal of the project's core mission to maintain low-cost node requirements.
Since separating from the main Bitcoin network in August and switching to the BLAKE2b mining algorithm on September 1, the fork has struggled to attract significant hashrate or exchange support. Dashjr continues to criticize the main Bitcoin network, labeling it a centralized system, while the fork's users face ongoing challenges regarding hardware performance and network synchronization.
