Improving Network Connectivity and Syncing Speed
The Bitcoin Core software, version 26.0, has been released, bringing significant upgrades to enhance network connectivity and syncing speed for nodes. Bitcoin developers are already looking ahead to the next release, v27, which may address the controversial Bitcoin Ordinals.
Bitcoin Core v26.0 introduces multiple optimizations to improve networking connectivity and initial blockchain syncing speeds for nodes. It includes preliminary support for a new network data transport protocol, increased resilience against eclipse attacks, faster node bootstrapping with UTXO snapshots, and various RPC enhancements.
“The new transport protocol, referred to as v2, is currently optional but enables upgraded nodes to benefit from improved peer connectivity if both parties have v2 enabled. The default legacy protocol is still fully supported,” explains a Bitcoin developer.
- Preliminary support for new network data transport protocol
- Increased resilience against eclipse attacks
- Faster node bootstrapping with UTXO snapshots
- Various RPC enhancements
One of the notable additions in this release is the loadtxoutset RPC, which utilizes UTXO snapshots to bootstrap a node in minutes rather than hours. This allows nodes to come online instantly instead of waiting for a full sync.
Bitcoin Core v26.0: “Loadtxoutset RPC brings usable nodes online instantly rather than waiting for full sync.”
Additionally, several RPCs have been added or updated, including getchainstates to monitor sync progress and enhanced Taproot support for certain wallet functions.
