Bitcoin’s breakaway chain formed at block 961632 on August 8 has struggled to gain traction, producing just four blocks in seven days as the small Roughnecks mining pool directs scarce hashpower at the fork. Now, backers of the initiative, tied to a proposal known as BIP-110, are preparing a higher-stakes move: switching the chain’s proof-of-work from Bitcoin’s double SHA-256 to Blake2b.
Minority Fork Stalls After Aug. 8 Split
The split at block 961632 created a minority chain that has advanced at a fraction of Bitcoin’s normal pace, underscoring how difficult it is to sustain a fork without broad miner participation. With only the Roughnecks pool visibly supporting the effort, block production has been sporadic, leaving the chain with long intervals between blocks and limited practical utility for users and miners.
BIP-110 Backers Weigh Blake2b Proof-of-Work
Supporters of the breakaway chain are preparing to abandon double SHA-256—the hashing algorithm that secures Bitcoin—in favor of Blake2b, a proof-of-work primitive used by a small number of other networks. A shift of this kind would sever compatibility with existing SHA-256 ASIC miners and require different hardware, potentially attracting a new cohort of miners but also isolating the fork from Bitcoin’s established mining ecosystem.
Changing proof-of-work midstream is a major technical and economic gambit. It can mitigate the risk of hashpower attacks from SHA-256 miners but introduces fresh hurdles, including the need for compatible mining equipment, updated node software, and coordinated support from pools and infrastructure providers.
Liquidity and Security Headwinds
The fork’s slow block cadence and narrow miner base raise persistent security concerns, including vulnerability to reorgs or majority-hash attacks. Market access also appears limited, with few venues listing or supporting the new chain, further dampening incentives for miners and users to participate.
Outlook
Whether a transition to Blake2b can revive the breakaway chain will depend on mobilizing sufficient hashpower, tooling, and exchange support to achieve stable block production and basic liquidity. Until then, the fork faces a long path to viability in the shadow of the main Bitcoin network.