Bitcoin developers have historically kept quiet about their coding mistakes, focusing on patching vulnerabilities without alerting the public. This secrecy helped protect the network from hackers, but a new wave of transparency is shedding light on the errors of the past.
Back in January 2021, a major update, Bitcoin Core 0.21.0, was released. This upgrade merged over 600 changes and fixed significant bugs, some of which could have allowed hackers to steal bitcoin. Fast forward to today, and most nodes are running much newer versions, but the developers are now revealing the issues they fixed back then.
Key bugs included vulnerabilities that allowed remote code execution, denial-of-service attacks, and censorship of transactions. One particularly serious flaw could have enabled a hard fork, risking a double-spending problem.
Recently, Bitcoin Core developers agreed to disclose security bugs patched more than 1.5 years ago. They started with bugs affecting version 20 and below, impacting about 426 nodes still using these older versions. These bugs, if left unpatched, could have led to the theft of funds, especially on the Lightning Network.
The developers’ move toward openness is a big deal, showing their commitment to security and trust within the Bitcoin community. By sharing their past mistakes, they’re not just protecting the network but also educating users and promoting better practices. This step-by-step approach to revealing old bugs ensures that the community stays informed without causing unnecessary panic.
In the coming months, expect more disclosures about older versions, as developers continue their journey towards full transparency.
