Bitcoin Core 28.0 Released with Key Enhancements

The Bitcoin Core development team has officially launched Bitcoin Core 28.0, a significant update that brings notable improvements in the realm of Bitcoin blockchain security. This update not only enhances security but also introduces features and fixes aimed at boosting network performance, functionality, and efficiency.

The release comes at a crucial time, as a vulnerability affecting one in six nodes was recently discovered, exposing them to potential Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks by malicious actors. Bitcoin Core is the primary software used to maintain the Bitcoin network, ensuring the accuracy of transactions and that all nodes access the same blockchain version. Consequently, most Bitcoin nodes operate using Bitcoin Core, indicating that the computers supporting the network predominantly rely on this software.

According to the development team, Bitcoin Core 28.0 has undergone testing across various operating systems, including Linux Kernel 3.17+, macOS 11.0+, and Windows 7 and later versions. For the time being, running Bitcoin Core on unsupported operating systems is discouraged. However, supported systems will receive updates with Testnet4, while Testnet3 will be phased out in future releases.

Key Improvements in Bitcoin Core 28.0

The latest version of Bitcoin Core introduces several important enhancements:

• 1. Enhanced Security: The update addresses and mitigates various vulnerabilities within the protocol, providing users with increased protection against potential threats.

• 2. P2P Connection Fixes: The new version resolves issues with peer-to-peer (P2P) connections that arose with Tor, allowing users to disable Tor nodes when unnecessary.

• 3. Supported Reproducible Builds: Bitcoin Core 28.0 promotes greater transparency and trust within the community by introducing supported reproducible builds.

• 4. Increased Connection Capacity: Users can now establish up to 125 P2P connections by default, improving network connectivity.

• 5. Improved Startup Conditions: The new version will not launch if its P2P links fail, whereas previously it would only cancel startup if all links failed.

• 6. Enhanced Privacy Features: The update further protects network transactions against attacks and information leaks, reinforcing user privacy.

Market Response and Outlook

Despite the significant updates brought by Bitcoin Core 28.0, Bitcoin's price remains largely unchanged, trading with modest gains as it strives to maintain the $60,000 level. Investors had hoped for a bullish trend at the start of October, but geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have once again dampened prices.

The anticipated "Uptober" and the onset of interest rate cuts have not yet had the desired impact on Bitcoin's market performance.