{"id":37696,"date":"2022-08-11T12:55:54","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T09:55:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/?p=37696"},"modified":"2025-08-29T20:13:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T17:13:08","slug":"what-is-a-bitcoin-improvement-proposal-bip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/what-is-a-bitcoin-improvement-proposal-bip\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP)?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-text-wrappers-cards single_card\">\n<h2 class=\"card_label\">Key points<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) is a formally specified proposal to improve Bitcoin\u2019s code.<\/li>\n<li>The BIP framework standardises how major changes are proposed. Because proposals are stored as text files in a <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bitcoin\/bips\/blob\/master\/bip-0001.mediawiki\">repository<\/a>, their contents and history are open to all.<\/li>\n<li>Anyone can suggest a BIP. To be added to Bitcoin\u2019s code and ultimately activated, it must be approved by developers and miners.<\/li>\n<li>A BIP typically covers a single substantial update to simplify debate. Minor tweaks and bug fixes are excluded. Some BIPs are procedural or informational.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-text-wrappers-cards single_card\">\n<h2 class=\"card_label\">Why are BIPs needed?<\/h2>\n<p>Bitcoin is software built on a digital protocol. It is continuously updated: fixing bugs, improving algorithmic efficiency, simplifying code, maintaining compatibility with other software and adding new features.<\/p>\n<p>The first cryptocurrency has no central governing body or development organisation\u2014it is a decentralised, <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bitcoin\/bitcoin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">open\u2011source<\/a> system. Decisions about upgrades are made by an independent developer community, and BIPs formalise and open up the process.<\/p>\n<p>Each proposal formatted as a BIP is assigned a number. The framework is used mainly for protocol upgrades or other sweeping changes. Not every code change requires it, such as user\u2011interface tweaks or bug fixes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-text-wrappers-cards single_card\">\n<h2 class=\"card_label\">When did Bitcoin start using BIPs for upgrades?<\/h2>\n<p>The first Bitcoin improvement proposal\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bitcoin\/bips\/blob\/master\/bip-0001.mediawiki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BIP1<\/a>\u2014appeared in 2011, submitted by British\u2011Iranian programmer Amir Taaki. He was inspired by Python\u2019s PEP process. The BIP process also resembles <a href=\"https:\/\/ru.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/RFC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RFCs<\/a> used to evolve the internet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-text-wrappers-cards single_card\">\n<h2 class=\"card_label\">How are BIPs proposed and accepted?<\/h2>\n<p>The process unfolds in stages and proceeds only after community consensus is reached.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"517\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BIP_forklog_graphics-1024x517.png\" alt=\"\u0427\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u043e\u0431 \u043e\u0431\u043d\u043e\u0432\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0438 \u0431\u0438\u0442\u043a\u043e\u0438\u043d\u0430 (BIP)?\" class=\"wp-image-181604\" style=\"width:820px;height:414px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BIP_forklog_graphics-1024x517.png 1024w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BIP_forklog_graphics-300x152.png 300w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BIP_forklog_graphics-768x388.png 768w, https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BIP_forklog_graphics.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lifecycle of a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Typically a BIP begins as an informal idea aired via community channels\u2014for example through <a href=\"https:\/\/ru.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/IRC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IRC<\/a> or Slack. The idea is then debated publicly. Anyone may propose a BIP, regardless of credentials or reputation.<\/p>\n<p>Once a proposal gains meaningful support, the author can move on to drafting a BIP with a concise technical specification and rationale.<\/p>\n<p>A designated editor acts as auditor and administrator. They help shape the proposal <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bitcoin\/bips\/blob\/master\/bip-0001.mediawiki#BIP_Formats_and_Templates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">to match BIP style and format<\/a> and ensure it does not duplicate existing ideas.<\/p>\n<p>When the editor deems it ready, the draft receives an official number, such as BIP\u20110119. Each BIP should address only one feature to keep discussion focused.<\/p>\n<p>Once the draft is <a href=\"https:\/\/lists.linuxfoundation.org\/mailman\/listinfo\/bitcoin-dev\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sent<\/a> to the dedicated <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bitcoin\/bips\/blob\/master\/bip-0001.mediawiki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">repository<\/a>, handling is transparent and anyone can track progress and testing results. Drafts carry statuses: accepted, deferred, rejected or withdrawn by the community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-text-wrappers-cards single_card\">\n<h2 class=\"card_label\">How long does it take to roll a BIP into Bitcoin\u2019s code?<\/h2>\n<p>Adoption is a lengthy process that can take years.<\/p>\n<p>A proposal typically needs ~95% approval from miners, and node operators must upgrade to the new software.<\/p>\n<p>After a BIP is accepted, it is merged into Bitcoin Core (Bitcoin\u2019s main software) and then activated. A long gap can separate those steps. That was the case with Taproot: the proposal was merged into Bitcoin Core in October 2020 and activated only in November 2021.<\/p>\n<p>As a rule, a BIP can be rejected if no progress is made within three years of submission.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-text-wrappers-cards single_card\">\n<h2 class=\"card_label\">What types of BIP exist?<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Standards Track BIP \u2014 proposals that define standards used by software and affect changes to the Bitcoin protocol.<\/li>\n<li>Informational BIP \u2014 non\u2011binding guidance for the community; it introduces no new feature and does not require consensus.<\/li>\n<li>Process BIP \u2014 proposals to improve foundational processes related to the Bitcoin ecosystem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-text-wrappers-cards single_card\">\n<h2 class=\"card_label\">Which BIPs are best known?<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bitcoin\/bips\/blob\/master\/bip-0008.mediawiki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BIP\u20118<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bitcoin\/bips\/blob\/master\/bip-0009.mediawiki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BIP\u20119<\/a> \u2014 two process BIPs that set the standard mechanism for activating <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-a-user-activated-soft-fork-uasf\">soft fork<\/a> upgrades on the blockchain.<\/li>\n<li>BIP\u2011141 (SegWit) \u2014 reorganised how data are stored in blocks, fixed \u201ctransaction malleability\u201d, and standardised <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-segregated-witness\">Segregated Witness (SegWit)<\/a> address formats.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-taproot\">Taproot<\/a> \u2014 one of the largest upgrades, bundling <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bitcoin\/bips\/blob\/master\/bip-0340.mediawiki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BIP\u2011340<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bitcoin\/bips\/blob\/master\/bip-0341.mediawiki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BIP\u2011341<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/bitcoin\/bips\/blob\/master\/bip-0342.mediawiki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BIP\u2011342<\/a>. It improved Bitcoin\u2019s scalability and privacy. For more on Taproot, <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-taproot\">read the Cryptorium article<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-text-wrappers-cards single_card\">\n<h2 class=\"card_label\">Further reading<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-a-hard-fork\">What is a hard fork?<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-the-blockchain-trilemma\">What is the blockchain trilemma?<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-ecdsa-in-bitcoin\">What is ECDSA in Bitcoin?<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/how-to-buy-bitcoin-a-step-by-step-guide-for-beginners\">How to buy bitcoin: a beginner\u2019s guide<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/is-bitcoin-digital-gold\">Is bitcoin \u2018digital gold\u2019?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP), why it matters, which formats exist, and how to draft one\u2014explained in cards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37697,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"select":"1","news_style_id":"1","cryptorium_level":"2","_short_excerpt_text":"","creation_source":"","_metatest_mainpost_news_update":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2113],"tags":[2116,2115,18,1192],"class_list":["post-37696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cryptorium","tag-101-bitcoin","tag-101-technical-foundations","tag-bitcoin","tag-developers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"views":"101","promo_type":"1","layout_type":"1","short_excerpt":"","is_update":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37696"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37696\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37698,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37696\/revisions\/37698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}