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Summary

Ava Chow announced the release of Bitcoin Core version 28.1, featuring enhancements like new peer-to-peer (P2P) configuration options and improved compatibility across various operating systems. This version also addresses certain bug fixes, introduces performance improvements, and updates translations. Users are advised to follow specific upgrade instructions, particularly when migrating from older versions, and can download the update from Bitcoin Core's official website. Significant technical advancements include modifications to address port collisions and improvements in key handling and build systems.

In a separate discussion, mcelrath explored the development of covenant-based solutions for Bitcoin mining pools, focusing on secure and accurate transaction management without custody risks. By leveraging covenants, the proposal aims to ensure theft-proof payouts in alignment with a "can't-be-evil" philosophy, offering an alternative to the FROST federation model. These covenants would enforce specific transaction paths, include safeguards against pool failures, and adjust for dynamic payout changes, highlighting a proactive approach to enhancing transaction security within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Finally, cdecker addressed the dynamics of channel finalization within blockchain networks, emphasizing the limited impact of attack strategies aimed at disrupting this process. The discussion highlighted mechanisms allowing victims to counter outdated updates published by attackers effectively, suggesting that collusive attacks requiring majority control are unlikely to achieve indefinite censorship. This analysis underscores the resilience of blockchain systems against such disruptions, though it acknowledges vulnerabilities in systems reliant on timelock or CSV mechanisms. For more detailed insights, visit this discussion.

New posts

January 9, 2025 19:02 UTC

bitcoin-dev

Bitcoin Core 28.1 Released
  • Bitcoin Core version 28.1 is now available, introducing new features and bug fixes.
  • Users should shut down older versions before installing 28.1, especially if EOL versions.
  • Significant updates include P2P configuration changes and compatibility with newer operating systems.

January 7, 2025 09:18 UTC

delvingbitcoin

[BROKEN] Multi-Party Eltoo with bounded settlement

3 replies

  • An attacker's strategy to disrupt blockchain finalization by publishing outdated updates has limited effectiveness.
  • Victims can counter attacks by preparing two versions of their latest update, diminishing the attacker's advantage.
  • Collusion between an attacker and a miner offers a silent attack strategy, yet requires majority control and strategic timeouts.

January 6, 2025 20:20 UTC

delvingbitcoin

Challenge: Covenants for Braidpool
  • The aim is to develop secure covenant proposals for Bitcoin mining pool payouts.
  • Covenant-based solutions aim to ensure theft-proof, custody-free accurate payouts.
  • Proposals include dynamic payout adjustments and mechanisms for theft or attack responses.

Ongoing Discussions

January 12, 2025 23:08 UTC

delvingbitcoin

What happens after we "run out" of script flags?

3 replies

  • Bitcoin Core uses script flags to guide script interpreter validations.
  • Script flags' role is crucial for security but not for consensus-critical aspects.
  • Flexibility in Bitcoin Core allows for future transaction processing improvements.

January 11, 2025 22:13 UTC

delvingbitcoin

Proposing a P2QRH BIP towards a quantum resistant soft fork

4 replies

  • The evolution of blockchain change implementation shifts from DASK to soft forks.
  • Matt Corallo proposes using `OP_SUCCESS` for post-quantum signatures in taproot.
  • The discussion emphasizes the need for consensus on hash-based signatures and BIP documentation.

January 10, 2025 00:46 UTC

delvingbitcoin

Code of Conduct Violation: Banning Antoine Riard for 3 months

2 replies

  • Antoine Riard plans to sue Matthew Corallo in a U.S. court over historical disagreements.
  • Their dispute stems from conflicting approaches to open-source project leadership and governance.
  • Riard is seeking judicial intervention to resolve issues of misrepresentation and project management.

January 9, 2025 12:24 UTC

bitcoin-dev

Mandatory Inclusion of Old Transactions in Blocks

6 replies

  • Jameson Lopp raises concerns about Bitcoin transaction timestamp reliability.
  • Adversaries could exploit proposed rules by backdating nLockTime, gaining unfair advantage.
  • This tactic risks making prioritization rules ineffective through widespread system gaming.

January 9, 2025 11:16 UTC

delvingbitcoin

PPLNS with job declaration

54 replies

  • Implementing share_index functionality poses challenges in correctness and efficiency.
  • The feature aims to prevent pools from giving false share index information.
  • The path alone may suffice for leaf index verification, suggesting potential redundancy.

January 7, 2025 22:41 UTC

delvingbitcoin

Ecash TIDES using Cashu and Stratum v2

34 replies

  • Exploring cryptocurrency mining's future raises questions about Proof of Assets and payout protocols.
  • Post-launch, a block template selection market and addressing Miner Extractable Value are discussed.
  • The coinbase output market's feasibility and directing profits to miners are challenging topics.

January 7, 2025 15:56 UTC

bitcoin-dev

Reiterating centralized coinjoin (Wasabi & Samourai) deanonymization attacks

4 replies

  • Yuval Kogman's email discusses vulnerabilities in coinjoins, like Sybil attacks by coordinators.
  • It suggests mitigations like decentralization and fidelity bonds, though risks remain.
  • Also, it proposes using permanent keys for signature verification and critiques Wasabi coordinator strategy.

January 7, 2025 15:24 UTC

delvingbitcoin

Great Consensus Cleanup Revival

62 replies

  • The forum proposed a rule to improve block validation times significantly.
  • A cap of 2,500 sigops per transaction was agreed upon after extensive discussions.
  • This limit is expected to markedly decrease validation time while being simple and effective.

January 7, 2025 01:07 UTC

delvingbitcoin

Multi-Party Eltoo with bounded settlement

2 replies

  • "Punishable Eltoo" explores penalty mechanisms in blockchain to enhance security and trustlessness.
  • Discussions focus on creating trustless, scalable multi-party systems, highlighting technical challenges.
  • Resources offer insights into advancing blockchain, addressing scalability, security, and trustlessness.

January 6, 2025 20:12 UTC

delvingbitcoin

How to linearize your cluster

7 replies

  • The discussion focuses on proving a property of subset $B$, optimally selecting transactions based on fee rates.
  • Any transaction not in $B$ with a higher fee rate requires inclusion to optimize $B$'s fee rate efficiency.
  • This concept invalidates the possibility of two distinct subsets meeting the criteria without contradiction, ensuring $B$'s uniqueness.

January 6, 2025 18:36 UTC

delvingbitcoin

Deterministic tx selection for censorship resistance

11 replies

  • Braidpool uses a deterministic block template to enhance block validation and transmission efficiency.
  • It adopts a balanced tx acceptance policy to support a wide array of tx types without enabling censorship.
  • The platform aims for censorship resistance, tx diversity, and ethical governance, accommodating various user preferences.

January 6, 2025 14:40 UTC

delvingbitcoin

Contract-level Relative Timelocks (or, let's talk about ancestry proofs and singletons)

8 replies

  • The Schnorr trick enhances Bitcoin contracts through complex operations and state enforcement.
  • State caboose concept facilitates seamless state transition across transactions in contracts.
  • Advanced Bitcoin scripts and opcodes optimize and expand contract execution and validation.

January 6, 2025 11:24 UTC

delvingbitcoin

Timewarp attack 600 second grace period

33 replies

  • A bug related to the timewarp rule was fixed in Bitcoin Core, enhancing security.
  • Theoretical discussions on timewarp attack show potential for block rate manipulation in Bitcoin.
  • Practical challenges limit the exploitability of such vulnerabilities, emphasizing ongoing security efforts.

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