The Bitcoin Fork That Fought for Cheap Nodes Just Hit Its First Cheap-Node Problem

Bitcoin Knots developer Luke Dashjr told a backer of his breakaway Bitcoin fork to “get a real computer” after a new rule forced the user’s Raspberry Pi node to resync.

Critics quickly pounced on the reply. For months, the fork’s camp argued that cheap hardware must be able to run a full node.

What the 45-Day Rule Means for the Bitcoin Fork

The fork left the main network in August and switched its mining algorithm to BLAKE2b on September 1. Since then, it has drawn almost no hashrate and no major exchange listing.

This week, Dashjr declared a new soft fork active on that chain. His pull request on Bitcoin Knots, the node software he maintains, locks newly mined coins for about 45 days instead of the usual 100 blocks.

According to Dashjr, the goal is to punish pool operators who mine without checking transactions. In his words, miners who fail to do the job should not get paid.

However, the upgrade backfired for at least one node runner. The user said it triggered an initial block download (IBD), meaning a full resync of the chain. He added that the 45-day window would close before his Raspberry Pi caught up.

Critics Say the Node Cost Argument Just Flipped

BIP-110, the proposal behind the fork, sought to cap arbitrary data such as inscriptions on Bitcoin. Its supporters claimed that this “spam” makes running a node too costly.

To critics, Dashjr’s answer looked like a reversal. One Bitcoin educator said the camp went from defending home nodes to demanding new hardware almost overnight.

Another user asked where the acceptable hardware floor sits. Dashjr replied that it depends on patience. He also blamed Bitcoin Core for raising node costs long before BIP-110.

Meanwhile, Dashjr still calls the main chain “Spamcoin.” He previously accused exchanges of selling fake Bitcoins. Now he calls it a centralized fiat airdrop, adding that a small cartel running it could seize users’ coins.

For now, the fork’s own users face the toughest hardware test. The two remaining parts of the plan may decide whether any miners return.

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