Bitcoin’s BIP 110 Enters a Critical Phase as Miner Support Stays Below 3%

Bitcoin BIP 110 Enters Mandatory Signaling Phase, Not Activation

Block 961,632 did not activate Bitcoin Bip 110. This proposed temporary soft fork aims to limit the inscription of non-financial data into the Bitcoin blockchain. The block opened the period during which miners must signal their position, while the network split is already among the scenarios monitored by the Bitcoin community.

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According to CoinDesk, in their article published on August 8, 2026, signaling began around 7:35 PM UTC. Miner support has rarely surpassed 2.5%, while the project targets a 55% threshold to secure activation.

This gap does not mean the debate is closed. It primarily means that the scenario of quick validation by miners seems very unlikely, while the mechanism chosen by the promoters opens another path.

The term “mandatory” can be misleading. Miners must now display a signal within the designated window, but this step does not yet turn the rule into consensus enforced by the entire network.

The Project Relies on Nodes to Bypass Miners’ Refusal

BIP 110 is based on a User-Activated Soft Fork, or UASF. Operators who update their node can then reject blocks produced by a miner who does not signal the proposal.

In this scheme, the node does not just check that the block complies with the usual rules. It adds a condition specific to BIP 110 and discards blocks that do not meet it, even if the dominant computing power continues to build another chain.

The project aims to temporarily limit the insertion of non-financial data into transactions. The official BIP 110 website presents this restriction as a way to reduce blockchain congestion and refocus network priorities on its monetary use.

This logic explains the resistance of its opponents. The debate on Bitcoin’s neutrality is not only about inscriptions and node operating costs but about the possibility of reserving consensus for certain uses.

However, project supporters cite a precedent: the activation of SegWit in 2017 via BIP-148. CoinDesk recalls that this approach allowed users to support a development while miners had not reached the expected support level.

Four Weeks to Assess the Risk of a Minority Chain

Signaling does not yet produce a winner. If nodes favoring BIP 110 reject the chain mined by the majority, two Bitcoin networks may coexist for a time.

CoinDesk describes a two-speed scenario. On one side, the mainnet would retain most of the computing power and institutional capital. On the other, a minority chain would group nodes that apply BIP 110.

This chain could gain weight if new node operators join it. It might also stop due to a lack of miners and economic support, which would limit the scope of the soft fork.

However, the timeline leaves a short window for both camps. The signaling period must last until block 965,664, which CoinDesk expects in about four weeks. By then, the signaling rate will remain the best indicator of the gap between the project’s ambition and actual mining sector adherence.

In summary, BIP 110 is entering its most sensitive phase with less than 3% miner support, a 55% threshold that seems out of reach at this stage, and a strategy that relies on nodes rather than pools.

The risk is therefore not limited to activation failure: it also concerns the coexistence of different rules on Bitcoin. To put this episode in a broader debate, our analysis of BIP 110 risks remains the most useful read: the actual behavior of nodes and miners will determine which chain retains consensus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the signaling phase mean for miners?

During this window, miners must indicate whether they support the proposal. Their signal does not immediately change the network's consensus rules; it only shows their stance. The process is designed to measure how much mining power backs the change before it can take effect.

How does a User-Activated Soft Fork work?

Node operators who update their software can enforce new rules on their own. They will reject blocks from miners who do not signal the proposal, even if those miners control most of the computing power. This approach lets users push for a change when miners are reluctant.

Why is there a risk of two chains?

If updated nodes reject the majority chain, a minority chain may form. The mainnet would likely keep most of the hashrate and institutional capital, while the minority chain would rely on nodes that enforce the new rules. It could grow or fade depending on miner and economic support.

What is the deadline for this signaling period?

The signaling period runs until block 965,664, which is expected in about four weeks. By then, the signaling rate will show how far the project is from its 55% activation threshold. The gap between ambition and actual miner support will be clearer.

What precedent is cited for this strategy?

Supporters point to the activation of SegWit in 2017 through BIP-148. That effort allowed users to back a development even when miners had not reached the expected support level. It is often referenced as a successful example of a user-driven approach.