Bitcoin Dev Revives 'Nuclear Option' as Miners Resist BIP-110
Bitcoin developer Chris Guida has revived code written by Luke Dashjr in 2017 to swap the mining algorithm on a breakaway BIP-110 chain if supporters fail to overcome miners' resistance. The activation height for BIP-110 is closing in fast, and supporters are now openly floating a proof-of-work (PoW) switch if it leaves them stranded on a weak minority chain that stops moving.
The code is not yet scheduled for activation, and Guida has described it as a last-resort contingency rather than an imminent fork. The proposal requires 55% miner signaling, or 1,109 of 2,016 blocks, for an early lock-in. If the threshold is not reached, a mandatory signaling window begins at block 961,632, projected to happen this weekend on or around Aug. 8 or 9.
A new proof-of-work algorithm would prevent today's specialized bitcoin mining machines from immediately dominating the breakaway chain. Guida has said he expects miners to support a smooth BIP-110 activation, while Dashjr has doubled down by saying 'Core is the scamcoin,' making clear he sees the fight as far from over.