Bitcoin researchers question Luke Dashjr's new proof-of-work algorithm selection mechanism, citing potential manipulation

Odaily News: Bitcoin News posted on X platform that Luke Dashjr today proposed a plan to select a new proof-of-work algorithm for his proposed Bitcoin hard fork at 14:00 UTC. Dashjr stated that the algorithm will be determined by the last character of the next block hash on Bitcoin Testnet4 after the deadline, with previously submitted mapping files assigning each possible character to a candidate algorithm. He claimed that no one, including himself, currently knows which algorithm will ultimately be selected, and published the SHA256 hash of the mapping file to prove the mapping was predetermined in advance. Bitcoin researchers criticized this process, arguing that near a known timestamp, Testnet4's hashpower could be manipulated to influence the final algorithm selection. Antoine Poinsot (@darosior) stated that using Testnet4 with a predetermined timestamp is "completely unreasonable"; @mononautical argued that concealing the mapping itself indicates the parties involved acknowledge the selection process could be manipulated.