F2Pool changes its mind, Bitcoin expansion protocol Segwit2x may have changes

F2Pool, the Chinese mining pool that had previously signed up to support the controversial scaling protocol Segwit2x, has had a change of heart from its operator Wang Chun.

Although the proposal has been supported by many large Bitcoin companies and mining pools, many people are still questioning the hard fork expansion method, which may cause Bitcoin to split into separate blockchain networks again.

Wang told CoinDesk via email:

“I do not support the Segwit2x hard fork.”

He went on to add that F2Pool is not running the Segwit2x codebase ‘BTC1’.

Representatives from Segwit2x did not immediately comment on whether the mining pool had alerted other organizations that had signed the agreement.

BTCC and Bitfury remain supportive of Segwit2x

Although F2Pool suddenly changed its mind, other mining pools seem to remain steadfast, with most claiming to continue supporting Segwit2x.

“We are strong supporters of the New York Agreement (Segwit2X) and we support Bitcoin scaling and take responsibility for it. We hope that the hard fork part of Segwit2X will also be upheld,” said Bobby Lee, CEO of BTCC.

Bitfury CEO Valery Vavilov echoed the sentiment, stating that “the original agreement regarding SegWit2x has not changed.”

Although support for SegWit2x remains high, Slush Pool, which previously did not sign the agreement, has not yet made a decision.

Marek Palatinus, co-founder of SatoshiLabs and Slush Pool, told reporters that the reason for their hesitation is the hard fork. However, he still seems reluctant to make any decision as the hard fork is still a few months away.

Are miners important?

There has been a lot of debate within the community about how many mining pools and computing power support Segwit2x.

Some bitcoin developers argue that users don’t follow mining pools, but rather that miners chase the most profitable networks, which are typically those blockchains with the most users and demand.

Bitcoin Cash (BCC), the new network that split from the Bitcoin network on August 1, provides an interesting and complex case study. Mining pools such as ViaBTC can be said to have played a big role in the birth of BCC, but most mining pools mine BCC just for profit.

What do you think about the Segwit2x hard fork in November? Feel free to share your views.