Bitcoin Knots Developer Targets August 30 for Proposed BLAKE2b Mining Transition
Luke Dashjr, a Bitcoin developer and leading figure in the Bitcoin Knots project, has identified Sunday, August 30th, as the target date for a major Proof of Work (PoW) change that could alter Bitcoin’s mining algorithm.
Dashjr said miners using SHA-2 should stop mining on Saturday to prepare for a mainnet rehearsal of Bitcoin Knots version 29.4.1rc4.
According to Dashjr’s post, Bitcoin Knots version 29.4.1rc4 will be configured to produce the final SHA-2 block before the proposed transition. After the online version of the New York Post’s Sunday morning print edition is published, the “canonical blake2b_headline” parameter will be shared for use at the beginning of the new BLAKE2b-based chain.
If the process proceeds smoothly, Dashjr said the final version of Bitcoin Knots 29.4.1 will be released as planned on September 1st. The blockchain history created on August 30th would also be preserved.
However, the developer said that an unexpected problem could allow the system to revert to the last SHA-2 block, followed by another attempt using version rc5.
Dashjr also recommended that miners who want to begin mining from the first day after the proposed change prepare in advance on testnet4 using Bitcoin Knots rc3.
What Would Change in Bitcoin Mining?
Bitcoin’s current Proof of Work system uses the SHA-256 hashing algorithm, which belongs to the SHA-2 family. Miners perform SHA-256 calculations to create new Bitcoin blocks.
The change described by Dashjr would introduce BLAKE2b for Proof of Work calculations. Like SHA-256, BLAKE2b is a cryptographic function that converts data into fixed-length hash values. The two algorithms have different computational structures, however, meaning that most existing Bitcoin ASIC mining devices cannot directly mine BLAKE2b.
If implemented, the proposed change could therefore involve more than a software update. It could also have significant consequences for the hardware supporting a substantial share of Bitcoin’s mining infrastructure.
The “last SHA-2 block” referenced by Dashjr would be the final block created under Bitcoin’s current SHA-256-based Proof of Work rules. After that block, nodes running the new rules could begin following blocks produced with BLAKE2b.
However, if other Bitcoin network participants do not accept the same change, the blockchain could split into two chains operating under different rules. Dashjr’s announcement should therefore not be viewed as a definitive protocol change accepted by the entire Bitcoin network. It specifically describes a planned process for Bitcoin Knots software and users who choose to adopt the proposed rules.
This is not investment advice.
