Bitcoin Hard Fork Fails to Gain Traction: BLAKE2b Chain Remains Inert

Proposed under BIP-110 and using the BLAKE2b proof-of-work method, a Bitcoin hard fork started on September 1, 2026, but has so far not had any notable support. Developed by supporter Luke Dashjr, the fork sought to replace Bitcoin's current SHA-256d algorithm with BLAKE2b, therefore incompatible with present ASIC miners and enabling mining with more general-purpose gear. The plan also called for a temporary limit on random data in blocks, with the expiration date of September 2027 unless node operators choose otherwise.

With just a few blocks generated and no consistent mining activity since its activation, the BLAKE2b chain has almost no hashrate. Major exchanges, wallets, custodians, and block explorers have not pledged to help this new chain. Therefore, there has been very little trading; just a tiny beta platform supposedly offers deposits under an unofficial ticker and no significant liquidity or official symbol. The primary Bitcoin network has kept functioning normally.

Miner, exchanges, and trading lack of adoption may be explained by several elements, mostly financial incentives. Miners had little reason to move from their current ASICs or for exchanges to support a chain with minimal security and liquidity, as Bitcoin trades strongly around $77k to $78k and the main chain maintains dominance. Also, most companies chose a wait-and-see strategy since the operating hazards connected with low-hashrate supporting a divisive fork—such as replay attacks—are rather high. Most Bitcoin holders consider this fork to be practically irrelevant as no action is needed and the value and liquidity of any possible forked coin are still somewhat unknown.