Bitcoin developers supporting BIP-110 are preparing a separate BLAKE2b proof-of-work chain for a proposed Sept. 1 launch after an earlier minority branch failed to attract enough SHA-256 mining support.
BIP-110 and the BLAKE2b Fork Are Separate Proposals
The original BIP-110 specification proposed a temporary soft fork restricting several methods used to place nonfinancial data on Bitcoin. Its rules included limits on large OP_RETURN outputs, script formats and contiguous arbitrary data exceeding 256 bytes. BIP-110's enforcing branch separated from Bitcoin's dominant chain in August but initially produced only two blocks, as nearly all established Bitcoin mining power continued extending the existing network. The proposed BLAKE2b network is therefore not simply BIP-110 activating on Bitcoin. It is a separate hard fork with a different proof-of-work system and its own resulting asset.
BLAKE2b Removes Dependence on Bitcoin Miners
The planned chain replaces Bitcoin's SHA-256d mining algorithm with BLAKE2b. Existing Bitcoin mining equipment is designed specifically for SHA-256 and cannot automatically redirect its computing power to the new algorithm. That change allows supporters to establish a new mining group instead of relying on operators securing Bitcoin's dominant chain. Some machines designed for Sia's version of BLAKE2b may be compatible. A rehearsal was arranged before the planned launch, with developers saying a successful test could be preserved in a Bitcoin Knots 29.4.1 release on Sept. 1.
Dispute Between BIP-110 Supporter and Ripple Co-Founder
The new chain became the subject of a dispute on Aug. 31 between BIP-110 supporter Loogart and Ripple co-founder David Schwartz. Loogart argued that supporters had accepted losing the effort to change Bitcoin's dominant chain and were voluntarily continuing elsewhere. Schwartz rejected the framing that supporters had tried to "fix the legacy chain," arguing that language portraying one side as broken moved the discussion away from a good-faith disagreement. Neither Ripple nor the XRP Ledger has a technical role in BIP-110 or the proposed chain.
Bitcoin Holders Face Support and Replay Questions
No major exchange, mainstream wallet or Lightning implementation had publicly committed to supporting the BLAKE2b chain before the proposed launch. Without that infrastructure, any inherited forked coins may initially lack a reliable market price or accessible trading venue. Replay protection is another issue, as transactions valid on both networks could potentially be repeated on the other unless users separate their coins. The practical effect on BTC depends on whether the breakaway network attracts miners, developers, wallets and trading venues after launch.
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