Michael Saylor told supporters of BIP-110 to “stand down” in a post on X on August 4, just days before a deadline that could force a split of the Bitcoin network. The MicroStrategy chairman has rejected the proposal several times before, but this is his most direct call for opponents to back off. BIP-110 is a contested Bitcoin improvement proposal that, if activated, could cause a hard fork.
The message on X
Saylor didn't mince words. “Stand down,” he wrote, addressing backers of BIP-110 directly. The post came without additional explanation, but the timing is telling. A deadline tied to the proposal is approaching, and the window to avoid a chain split is closing. Saylor's post was his first public intervention in the debate this month.
Why BIP-110 is controversial
BIP-110 proposes changes to Bitcoin's consensus rules that its critics say would fundamentally alter the network's security model. Saylor has been a vocal opponent for months. He's argued the proposal would undermine the very properties that make Bitcoin valuable. The proposal's backers, meanwhile, say it's a necessary upgrade. The standoff has been building for weeks.
The deadline and what's at stake
The exact deadline hasn't been made public, but sources close to the debate say it's a matter of days. If BIP-110's supporters don't back down, miners and node operators could be forced to choose sides. A hard fork would create two competing versions of Bitcoin, splitting the community and the ledger. That's a scenario Saylor and other major holders have been trying to avoid.
What happens next
It's unclear whether the “stand down” order will be heeded. BIP-110's backers have shown no sign of relenting, and the proposal has gathered significant support among some mining pools. Saylor's influence is considerable, but it's not absolute. The next few days will determine whether the network stays unified or fractures. For now, the clock is ticking.
