Bitcoin's potential governance shift is facing a likely setback as the proposed BIP-110 struggles to gain traction among miners. As of late June 2026, the proposal designed to limit non-financial data on the Bitcoin blockchain has only garnered approximately 0.31% support from the total hashrate, indicating significant resistance from major mining pools.
The signaling phase for BIP-110 is anticipated to commence around block height 961,632, falling between August 7 and August 15. To achieve an early lock-in, the proposal must secure 55% approval from miners, a target it currently fails to meet.
#What is BIP-110 and its Objectives?
BIP-110 aims to enforce stricter data regulations on Bitcoin transactions. Specifically, it would limit transaction output data to a maximum of 34 bytes and restrict the use of OP_RETURN to 83 bytes. This initiative would complicate the direct embedding of images, tokens, and other types of non-monetary content onto Bitcoin's primary layer.
Originally introduced as BIP-444 in October 2025, the proposal was later reclassified. Its creator, Dathon Ohm, envisioned it as a temporary consensus adjustment, effectively initiating a trial period to evaluate tighter data restrictions on Bitcoin.
Supporters of BIP-110 contend that developments such as Ordinals and Runes have inflated transaction fees and increased stress on node operators.
#Analyzing the Current Support for BIP-110
Current figures portray a discouraging picture for BIP-110. Node backing fluctuated between 2% and 3% in early 2026, translating to about 583 out of roughly 24,481 nodes that were in operation by January. This limited support has been largely associated with the Bitcoin Knots software rather than a widespread ideological consensus among node operators.
The miner support for BIP-110 is even less convincing, with the 0.31% hashrate support representing about 5 EH/s out of a total network hashrate of around 940 EH/s. The only block actively signifying support for BIP-110 was mined by Ocean pool in March 2026, yet no significant mining pool has rallied behind it since then. Ocean, managed by Bitcoin Core developer Luke Dashjr, is known for distinct practices in transaction processing that deviate from those typical among larger pools.
#Why Aren't Major Mining Pools Supporting BIP-110?
Criticism towards BIP-110 comes from notable figures in the cryptocurrency sector. Prominent voices include Blockstream's CEO Adam Back and well-known Bitcoin developer Jameson Lopp, who point out the multifaceted risks associated with the proposal. Their criticisms highlight the possibility of a contentious chain split due to inconsistent enforcement, reputational ramifications for Bitcoin that could arise from a controversial fork attempt, and the enforcement challenges, which mean only nodes adhering to the new rules would enforce the capacity limits.
Even if BIP-110 were to proceed, its restrictions would be relevant only for nodes that opted to adopt them. Miners and nodes not upgrading would remain active in processing transactions that BIP-110 aims to restrict.
#What are the Implications for Bitcoin Investors?
The anticipated failure of BIP-110 signifies broader implications beyond the intricacies of governance. Investors should recognize that protocols like Ordinals and Runes will likely remain unaffected. Economic incentives will sustain miner interest in processing these transactions, while the absence of political support to limit them at the critical hashrate level remains evident.
For Bitcoin to successfully implement upgrades, it requires overwhelming consensus from the mining community. BIP-110's failure to gather significant support illustrates that even proposals with passionate grassroots enthusiasm can fall short when they do not align with the economic realities of miners.