Bitcoin BLAKE2b freezes mining rewards for 45 days
4.3 Tech Bitcoin BLAKE2b will freeze new mining rewards for 45 days at block 973440 to curb miner misuse. Its token price has dropped 84% from its peak and now trades between $270 and $315.
Bitcoin BLAKE2b, a minority fork of Bitcoin launched on August 8, 2026, is set to implement a new rule freezing newly mined coins for 45 days. This change will take effect at block 973440, expected around September 22, and is formalized through Bitcoin Knots pull request #419, merged on September 21. The update extends the standard mining reward maturity from 100 confirmations to 45 days and will remain until block 979920. The measure aims to address concerns about miner misuse and the concentration of hash power in large mining pools. Bitcoin BLAKE2b initially struggled with inherited mining difficulty, impacting its network stability and token performance. The network's token, BTCB2 or XBT, reached a peak price of $1,799 but has since dropped 84%, now trading between $270 and $315. The 45-day lock is described as the first step in a broader plan, with potential future extensions of the maturity period up to one year.
