Why Bitcoin's Next Soft Fork Could Feel Like a Practice Run
Summary
Bitcoin developer Matt Corallo says the Great Consensus Cleanup (BIP-54), proposed in 2019, has an 80% chance of being the network’s next soft fork. It would fix several long-standing consensus vulnerabilities, including issues involving difficulty adjustment and denial-of-service risks, though no formal timeline exists. Developers surveyed at TABconf expect activation no earlier than September 2027, with most estimates in 2028 or later. Beyond code maintenance, Corallo sees the upgrade as a chance to establish a reusable process for deploying soft forks amid growing social and political friction over protocol changes. Critics, including Paul Sztorc, argue the maintenance-focused upgrade offers little broader benefit.
