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| Bitcoin could split in debate over currency's future | Bitcoin could split in debate over currency's future |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A row over changing the software that produces bitcoins could split the virtual currency, core developers say. | A row over changing the software that produces bitcoins could split the virtual currency, core developers say. |
| Bitcoin XT, a new version, is currently being recommended by the currency's chief scientist, Gavin Andresen. | Bitcoin XT, a new version, is currently being recommended by the currency's chief scientist, Gavin Andresen. |
| And its developer, Mike Hearn, says its adoption essential to ensure the currency can cope with growing demand. | And its developer, Mike Hearn, says its adoption essential to ensure the currency can cope with growing demand. |
| But some, including a large number of bitcoin miners in China, are resisting XT because of how it might affect control over the currency. | |
| Bitcoin's blockchain - a digital ledger of all transactions made with the currency - is currently made up of 1MB blocks. | Bitcoin's blockchain - a digital ledger of all transactions made with the currency - is currently made up of 1MB blocks. |
| Bitcoin XT would enable these blocks to grow to 8MB. | Bitcoin XT would enable these blocks to grow to 8MB. |
| But this would mean XT was no longer compatible with existing Bitcoin software, creating, its detractors say, two separate currencies and eroding trust in both. | But this would mean XT was no longer compatible with existing Bitcoin software, creating, its detractors say, two separate currencies and eroding trust in both. |
| Mr Hearn told the BBC the Bitcoin community's reaction to the release of the XT software at the weekend had been mixed, but there were some encouraging signs. | Mr Hearn told the BBC the Bitcoin community's reaction to the release of the XT software at the weekend had been mixed, but there were some encouraging signs. |
| "We've gone from zero people running the software to 10% of the network in 72 hours, which is really good," he said | "We've gone from zero people running the software to 10% of the network in 72 hours, which is really good," he said |
| Consensus on consensus | Consensus on consensus |
| But many are unhappy the core development team at Bitcoin is currently in disagreement over whether Bitcoin XT is right for the future of the currency. | But many are unhappy the core development team at Bitcoin is currently in disagreement over whether Bitcoin XT is right for the future of the currency. |
| A pool of large Chinese mining groups, for example, have said they will not adopt the software unless it is unanimously adopted by the core team. | A pool of large Chinese mining groups, for example, have said they will not adopt the software unless it is unanimously adopted by the core team. |
| Mr Hearn said he had decided to force the issue in order to overcome the stalemate. | Mr Hearn said he had decided to force the issue in order to overcome the stalemate. |
| "If you look at the guys working on the Bitcoin core, they talk about consensus all the time - but if you ask them what they really mean, they can't tell you," he said. | "If you look at the guys working on the Bitcoin core, they talk about consensus all the time - but if you ask them what they really mean, they can't tell you," he said. |
| "There is no consensus about what consensus means." | "There is no consensus about what consensus means." |
| Mr Hearn acknowledged, however, the reduced control developers had under XT would mean they would have to split the currency a second time if they were unhappy with future decisions. | Mr Hearn acknowledged, however, the reduced control developers had under XT would mean they would have to split the currency a second time if they were unhappy with future decisions. |
| "If we go off the rails and do things that aren't in the best interests of the community, then the solution is fork it again," he said. | "If we go off the rails and do things that aren't in the best interests of the community, then the solution is fork it again," he said. |
| Dr Vili Lehdonvirta, at the Oxford Internet Institute, said the adoption of Bitcoin XT would mean "the community has much fewer guarantees of being listened to". | Dr Vili Lehdonvirta, at the Oxford Internet Institute, said the adoption of Bitcoin XT would mean "the community has much fewer guarantees of being listened to". |
| "Those algorithms are made by humans and whoever writes them gets to have power over the system," he told the BBC. | "Those algorithms are made by humans and whoever writes them gets to have power over the system," he told the BBC. |
| Dr Lehdonvirta added increasing block size could potentially make Bitcoin less accessible. | Dr Lehdonvirta added increasing block size could potentially make Bitcoin less accessible. |
| "Downloading the whole blockchain is already such an effort that most people choose not to run Bitcoin on their computers," he said. | "Downloading the whole blockchain is already such an effort that most people choose not to run Bitcoin on their computers," he said. |
| "This would put Bitcoin on a trajectory where that problem is exaggerated." | "This would put Bitcoin on a trajectory where that problem is exaggerated." |