There are multiple solutions in circulation to make bitcoin scale. Whether it is SegWit, Extension Blocks, or Bitcoin Unlimited, every solution provides its own advantages and drawbacks. There is also the o option of a user-activated soft fork, although it proves to be somewhat difficult for nodes to signal the UASF right now.
We Need UASF Binaries For Nodes
Every time a new bitcoin scaling proposal comes around, people always look at network node support To determine whether or not it has a realistic chance on the network. Having a lot of nodes supporting a particular scaling solution is not enough to make it activate, though. That is, unless one is dealing with the user-activated soft fork, which will implement SegWit based on user consensus, rather than just playing according to the miners’ rules.
This is where the user-activated soft fork is a very different creature. As long as there is enough network support to signal for its activation, it will occur – assuming a date can be set. This means that every node signaling for the UASF will play a critical role in the future of bitcoin scaling. Unfortunately, it appears node support for the UASF is rather low right now, albeit that situation may come to change in the coming weeks.
Even though anyone in the world can take the UASF source code and compile it themselves, a lot of people are not comfortable doing so. That is not all that surprising by any means, as not everyone knows how to compile source code in the first place. Moreover, even if everyone did, not all bitcoin users feel comfortable doing so either. That is why there are usually binaries for these types of activities, yet the UASF solution proves to be an exception.
Luke-jr, one of the most recognized names in all of bitcoin, has acknowledged there is a need for USF binaries so nodes can start signaling. It is unclear as to when the binaries will be released, although this is expected to occur in the coming weeks. No official date has been set in stone just yet, though. Once these binaries are released to the public it will be quite interesting to see how many UASF-signaling nodes will appear on the bitcoin network.
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