The leading Bitcoin (BTC) second-layer network, Stacks (STX), has encountered block production issues for the fourth time this year. Stacks is a blockchain that connects to the Bitcoin network, offering benefits such as transaction throughput, staking, and smart contracts.
On June 14, Colin Wu reported that the Stacks network experienced a block interruption lasting over nine hours, stopping block production at height 153917. This recurring issue, known as “block behavior,” has occurred on multiple occasions in 2024, including January 31, March 17, April 2, and June 14.
Despite attributing the latest problem to unexpected block behavior and a Bitcoin reorg, conflicting reports suggest that the Bitcoin network has not undergone any recent chain reorganizations. A Bitcoin chain reorganization involves a new chain replacing the existing one, affecting transactions and miners working on the old chain.
Addressing these challenges, the anticipated Nakamoto update on Stacks aims to resolve block production halts and network congestion. By decoupling block production from the Bitcoin blockchain, this update introduces a new consensus mechanism called “proof-of-transfer” to enhance speed and scalability.
The Nakamoto update also introduces sBTC, a trust-minimized bridge facilitating the transfer of BTC into the Stacks ecosystem. This development is expected to enhance the Stacks DeFi economy and further establish its position as one of the most mature ecosystems in the Bitcoin space.
