Bitcoin hits block 961,632 as the controversial BIP-110 soft fork attempt begins
Bitcoin reached block 961,632 on August 7, 2026, marking the official start of the mandatory signaling period for BIP-110, a proposed soft fork that has drawn significant controversy within the Bitcoin development community. According to CoinDesk, the upgrade entered this critical activation phase with fewer than 3% of miners signaling support, a figure well below the threshold typically considered necessary for a smooth network upgrade.
BIP-110 has been a subject of heated debate among Bitcoin developers, miners, and node operators for months. Soft forks in Bitcoin generally require broad miner consensus to activate without risking a chain split, and the historically low signaling rate heading into mandatory signaling has raised concerns about the proposal's legitimacy and potential network stability. Critics of the proposal argue that proceeding under these conditions sets a dangerous precedent for Bitcoin governance.
The development has introduced uncertainty into Bitcoin markets, with analysts noting that contentious protocol changes have historically contributed to short-term price volatility and community fragmentation. Industry participants are closely watching whether mining pools will increase their support, hold firm in opposition, or whether a coordinated response from node operators will emerge to reject the fork entirely.
Key metrics to monitor in the coming weeks include miner signaling percentages across blocks, the response from major Bitcoin node operators, and any statements from prominent development teams regarding their position on BIP-110's activation timeline.
Source: CoinDesk
