Bitcoin Faces New Hard Fork Attempt Over Mining Changes

A new hard fork for Bitcoin is scheduled for September 1, 2026. This move follows the earlier failure of BIP 110, which also aimed to modify the network. The group behind this proposal wants to switch the current proof of work mechanism to the Blake2b mining algorithm.

Ripple CTO Emeritus Stefan Thomas voiced strong criticism of the plan. He challenged the proponents to reconsider the necessity and the logic behind such a drastic change to the Bitcoin protocol. His comments highlight the ongoing tension between those who want to update the network and those who prefer to keep the original structure intact.

Changes to the underlying mining algorithm remain controversial because they require broad consensus to succeed. Without support from the majority of miners, these forks often struggle to gain value or adoption. Investors should watch how the community responds as the September date approaches.