The Blocksize War: The Battle Over Who Controls Bitcoin’s Protocol Rules by Jonathan Bier

The Blocksize War: The Battle Over Who Controls Bitcoin’s Protocol Rules by Jonathan Bier is a detailed account of one of the most contentious episodes in Bitcoin’s history—the debate over how to scale the network. The book examines the technical, ideological, and personal conflicts that emerged as the cryptocurrency community grappled with the future of Bitcoin. Synopsis Bier chronicles the events surrounding the blocksize debate, which pitted miners, developers, and businesses against each other over how to handle increasing transaction volumes. He explores the technical arguments, community disagreements, and high-stakes negotiations that ultimately shaped Bitcoin’s evolution. Through interviews, firsthand accounts, and careful analysis, the book reveals how governance, decentralization, and differing visions of Bitcoin’s purpose fueled one of the most dramatic controversies in cryptocurrency history. Key Features & Themes

• Inside the Debate: Comprehensive coverage of the blocksize conflict.
• Technical Insights: Explains Bitcoin protocol, blocks, and scaling solutions.
• Community Dynamics: How disagreements and governance shaped outcomes.
• Impact on Bitcoin: Consequences for adoption, forks, and ecosystem growth.
• Human Drama: Profiles of key figures and their roles in the conflict.

Why Read It?

• Provides an in-depth look at Bitcoin’s internal politics and technical challenges.
• Ideal for cryptocurrency enthusiasts, developers, and investors.
• Balances technical explanation with engaging storytelling.
• Offers lessons about governance, consensus, and the complexities of decentralized networks.

The Blocksize War is a definitive account of a pivotal moment in Bitcoin’s history, revealing the challenges of maintaining a decentralized currency in the face of competing visions and high-stakes decisions.