BIP: XXX
Layer: Consensus (soft fork)
Title: nLockTime signaling and flag day activation
Author: /dev/fd0 <alicexbt@protonmail.com>
Status: Draft
Type: Standards Track
Created: 2024-08-19
License: Public Domain
Abstract
This document describes a process to activate soft forks using flag day after nLockTime
signaling and discussion.
Motivation
BIP 8 and BIP 9 are controversial. This BIP is an alternative which addresses the problems with other activation methods.
Specification
- Assign numbers to different soft fork proposals or use their BIP numbers
- Users can broadcast their transactions with one of these numbers used as
nLockTime
to show support - Miners inlcuding a transaction in block would signal readiness for a soft fork
- Community can analyze these transactions after 3 months and prepare for a flag day activation of soft fork
Example:
Use 119 to signal support for OP_CHECKTEMPLATEVERIFY in nLockTime
Reference implementation
Activation: https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/commit/ab91bf39b7c11e9c86bb2043c24f0f377f1cf514.diff
Exclusion in relay or mining: https://github.com/bitcoinknots/bitcoin/commit/18cd7b0ef6eaeacd06678c6d192b6cacc9d7eee5.diff
If a transaction does not get included in block for a long time, users can replace it with another transaction spending same inputs and use a different nLockTime
.