Controversial Bitcoin BIP-110 Soft Fork Mines Two Blocks Then Stops
- A contentious BIP-110 soft fork attempt on Bitcoin activated at block 961,632, with the breakaway chain mining just two blocks before halting due to insufficient hashpower and difficulty issues.
The BIP-110 fork represents a rare on-chain experiment in Bitcoin's governance that highlights ongoing debates over protocol upgrades and miner signaling.
With minimal hashpower support—less than 3% according to reports—the fork quickly became orphaned, creating potential confusion for users and exchanges regarding transaction validity across chains.
This low-support activation underscores Bitcoin's conservative upgrade process, where even signaling phases require broad consensus to avoid chain splits.
Traders should monitor whether this sparks renewed discussions on Bitcoin Improvement Proposals or leads to temporary volatility in BTC spot and futures markets as participants navigate any replay risks.
The episode also affects related infrastructure like Lightning Network nodes, which saw separate exploits reported around the same period, amplifying security concerns.
In terms of market impact, such technical events often prove neutral to mildly bearish in the short term by introducing uncertainty without fundamental changes to supply or demand. Longer term, successful navigation reinforces Bitcoin's resilience as the dominant store of value.
Key levels to watch include BTC's reaction around $65,000 and any uptick in on-chain fork-related activity or developer commentary. Institutional holders and miners remain focused on core chain stability, potentially driving flows into regulated products like spot ETFs if doubts persist.
Overall, this story matters because it tests Bitcoin's decentralized consensus mechanisms at a time when the asset trades near $65,000 amid broader macro stability, reminding participants that protocol risks, though rare, can influence sentiment and trading volumes across crypto derivatives.
Share this story
Spread the signal — link, social or copy.
Related topics
Related coverage
Bitcoin tanks to $74,300 as spot ETFs bleed $2.26 billion in two weeks
Bitcoin fell to $74,300 amid significant outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs totaling $2.26 billion over two weeks. The decline reflects broader selling pressure in crypto markets.
Clarity Act clears Senate Banking Committee amid ongoing ethics debate
The Clarity Act advanced through the U.S. Senate Banking Committee in a bipartisan vote, representing a key step toward federal crypto market structure legislation. Traders are monitoring further congressional progress on the bill.
Hyperliquid's HYPE Token Surges 16.5% to New Record High
Hyperliquid's HYPE token rose 16.5% over the past 24 hours to a fresh all-time high, standing out amid broader crypto market consolidation. Bitcoin traded near $77,700 with analysts watching $75,000 support after a liquidation wave.
Bitcoin heads higher as President Trump announces Iran peace agreement
President Trump announced that an agreement has been largely negotiated between the US, Iran, and other countries. Bitcoin rose in response to the news amid reduced geopolitical tensions.
Bitcoin rises on Trump Iran peace agreement announcement
President Trump announced a largely negotiated peace agreement involving the US, Iran, and other countries, sending Bitcoin sharply higher to around $76,700 after dipping near $74,000.
Traders pile into $82K Bitcoin calls ahead of $6B May 29 expiry
Deribit’s bitcoin open interest has overtaken BlackRock’s IBIT as traders position for a showdown between $75K max pain and $80K call wall. BTC is coasting near $77,000-$82,000 levels.