The Bitcoin network split into two competing chains on Aug. 9, 2026, when the BIP‑110 soft‑fork – an enforcing protocol change – was activated at block 961,632. Within hours the minority chain produced just two new blocks and then stalled, leaving it far behind the main Bitcoin blockchain.
Background on BIP‑110
BIP‑110 was designed to implement a mandatory signaling rule that would have required all miners to adopt a specific set of protocol changes. Unlike optional upgrades, the fork would have forced compliance by rejecting blocks that did not signal support. Critics warned that the change could fragment the network if miners did not rally behind it.
When the fork went live, it inherited Bitcoin’s existing mining difficulty, meaning the new chain needed the same amount of computational work per block as the original network. According to CoinDesk, the minority chain “inherited bitcoin’s mining difficulty with only a tiny share of hashpower,” resulting in blocks being spaced hours apart.
Current Status and Market Reaction
Reports from several outlets – including Cointelegraph, KuCoin and The Block – indicate that the BIP‑110 chain is now lagging the main network by a substantial margin. KuCoin cites a gap of 26 blocks, while CryptoSlate, Pluang and other sources note an 18‑block deficit. The discrepancy reflects the rapidly evolving block counts as the main chain continues to advance while the minority chain remains idle.
Hash‑power participation in the fork has been minuscule. A tweet tracked by t.co estimated support at roughly 2.53% of total Bitcoin mining power. With such limited resources, the enforcing fork could not sustain the difficulty level, leading to the observed halt after just two blocks.
"The enforcing BIP‑110 chain has produced only two blocks in over 24 hours, while the main Bitcoin network is now 18 blocks ahead," reported The Block.
The stalled fork has added another layer of uncertainty to the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin’s price slipped below $65,000 on the same day, as noted by Yahoo Finance, with inflows into exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) partially offsetting concerns about the network split. Nonetheless, analysts say the price movement is more closely tied to broader market dynamics and upcoming ETF approvals than to the technical dispute itself.
Crypto‑native observers point to the miner boycott as a decisive factor. CryptoSlate described the situation as a “silent miner boycott,” emphasizing that without broad consensus, enforcing forks are unlikely to succeed. Meanwhile, mainstream financial commentary highlights the episode as a reminder of the challenges inherent in coordinating upgrades on a decentralized, proof‑of‑work system.As of the latest block heights, the main Bitcoin chain sits well into the 961,650 range, while the BIP‑110 chain remains at block 961,634. No new blocks have been added to the minority chain for several hours, and there is no indication that additional hash‑power will be marshaled to bridge the gap.
Industry observers will watch closely whether the BIP‑110 proponents abandon the effort or attempt a re‑launch with a reduced difficulty target. For now, the fork is effectively dormant, and Bitcoin’s primary network continues to operate without interruption.
Market Snapshot
| Asset | Price | 24h | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bitcoin BTC | $64,997 | +0.00% | $1304.3B |
 Ethereum ETH | $1,922 | -0.20% | $231.9B |
 BNB BNB | $606.46 | +1.40% | $80.8B |
 XRP XRP | $1.04 | +0.00% | $65.0B |
 Solana SOL | $76.7 | +1.10% | $44.6B |
 Dogecoin DOGE | $0.0703 | -0.40% | $10.9B |
 Cardano ADA | $0.197 | -1.60% | $7.4B |
Live data: CoinGecko — 2026-08-09 13:21 UTC
