Bitcoin Core speeds up security fixes as 44% of surveyed nodes run unsupported versions
Bitcoin Core adopted a policy allowing developers to quickly backport fixes for vulnerabilities considered easy to rediscover, including by AI systems, across all maintained release lines and publish advisories with the fixes. Previously, details could remain embargoed until two weeks after the last affected release reached end of life, sometimes delaying disclosure for about a year. The change aims to reduce the risk that flaws are rediscovered before users can patch, though faster fixes may have less testing time. A network snapshot found 43.6% of 8,422 self-reported public Bitcoin Core peers were on unsupported versions; the measure excludes some nodes and does not indicate compromise. Upgrades remain voluntary, and users must install point releases to receive fixes.
