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Bitcoin: Why are checkpoints still in the codebase in 2024?

Published by Terlumun Aondover on February 5th, 2025.

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Bitcoin: Why are checkpoints still in the codebase in 2024?

As the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, Bitcoin has been a cornerstone of digital assets for over two decades. One aspect that has remained constant throughout this journey is checkpoints – the mechanism used to pause and resume Bitcoin’s validation process. In this article, we’ll explore why checkpoints are still in the codebase in 2024.

What are checkpoints?

Checkpoints are a mechanism implemented by Bitcoin Core (BTC-RC), the official open-source Bitcoin client, to pause and resume validation processes. This allows multiple threads to work simultaneously on different parts of the blockchain without blocking each other. During this time, the validating node is prevented from sending new blocks until it resumes its work.

Why are checkpoints still in the codebase?

Despite the significant improvements made to Bitcoin over the years, checkpoints are still a feature that still exists in the codebase for several reasons:

Historical significance: Checkpoints were introduced in the early days of Bitcoin, when validation processes were more complex and resource-intensive.

Security considerations
: Suspend-and-resume mechanisms are often used in conjunction with other security features, such as two-factor authentication and encryption, to ensure that nodes remain secure even during malicious attacks.

Testing and debugging: Checkpoints provide a useful tool for testing and debugging blockchain validation processes, allowing developers to simulate different scenarios and strengthen their understanding of the Bitcoin codebase.

Legacy Compatibility: Some users and developers may still require checkpoints due to compatibility issues with legacy codebases or older versions of Bitcoin Core.

Height Timestamp: Why is the timestamp still in use?

The height timestamp associated with checkpoints (aka the “blockhash_timestamps” variable) may seem outdated. However, there are a few reasons why it is still in use:

Historical Accuracy: The timestamp was originally chosen based on historical data and may not reflect the current state of the blockchain.

Testing and Regression Purposes
: Checkpoints can be used to test and debug validation processes, allowing developers to simulate different scenarios and confirm their understanding of the Bitcoin codebase.

Conclusion

Bitcoin’s checkpointing mechanism has been a cornerstone of the cryptocurrency space for over two decades. While it may seem outdated in terms of timestamp accuracy, checkpoints are still an essential feature that provides pause-and-resume capabilities for multiple threads. Their continued presence in the codebase ensures that developers can test and debug the blockchain validation processes.

In 2024, Bitcoin Core will continue to evolve, but the checkpoint mechanism will remain an important part of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. As new features and improvements are integrated into the codebase, it is important for users and developers to familiarize themselves with these mechanisms to ensure compatibility and optimal performance.