Ripple CTO Emeritus Slams Bitcoin's BIP-110 Legacy Chain Fix: 'Listen to Yourself'

A proposed Bitcoin hard fork, outlined under BIP-110, would replace SHA256d - Bitcoin's current mining algorithm - with BLAKE2b as part of a broader legacy chain fix. The initial implementation failed, prompting developers to prepare a second attempt scheduled for September 1, 2026. This shift would fundamentally alter Bitcoin's proof-of-work mechanism. Ripple's CTO Emeritus publicly criticized the proposal, characterizing the effort as misguided and urging proponents to reconsider their approach.

The significance lies in the technical and philosophical stakes: any successful hard fork represents a contentious network upgrade that historically divides the community. Mining algorithm changes affect hardware compatibility and the entire ecosystem of miners supporting the network.

• A hard fork under BIP-110 would swap SHA256d for BLAKE2b mining, with a second attempt scheduled for September 1, 2026 after the initial effort stalled.
• Ripple's CTO Emeritus publicly objected to the proposal, signaling broader skepticism about the technical direction.
• Algorithm changes carry significant implications for mining infrastructure and network consensus mechanisms.