Bitcoin Core 32.0 has entered release-candidate testing as developers prepare a new software update focused on faster block checks, wallet changes, and security fixes. The project entered testing on Monday, with developers targeting October 10 for the final release, although that date could change during testing.
The update mainly affects people who operate Bitcoin nodes and developers who use Bitcoin Core for wallets and other services. These updates do not affect the block creation speed of Bitcoin. Rather, these improvements help with block validation and requests from connected applications by Bitcoin Core.
Bitcoin Core 32.0 Targets Faster Block Checks
One of the main changes in Bitcoin Core 32.0 is a new way to read database information during block checks. According to the draft release notes, the software can read this information in parallel, which can speed up the process of checking blocks.
However, the change impacts the way a node carries out its job and not the block generation speed of the Bitcoin network. Bitcoin Core is used by computers to verify Bitcoin transactions and blocks, so changes to its checking process can affect the software used by node operators.
Source: Cyberpunk
The project has not provided a specific percentage for how much faster block checks will become. The available information only states that the new approach can improve the speed of those checks.
The release also changes four wallet commands so they will use a newer format by default for exchanging partially signed transactions between wallets and signing devices. Applications can still request the older format when needed.
Bitcoin Core 32.0 Includes Wallet Security Fix
Security is another major part of the Bitcoin Core 32.0 update. One fix prevents specially crafted wallet names from triggering commands on a node’s computer.
The issue affected non-Windows systems when an authenticated user could create wallets and the walletnotify feature was set to run commands after wallet transactions occurred. The fix is intended to prevent wallet names from being used in that way.
Another security patch addresses excessive memory use in Bitcoin Core’s new HTTP server. The server handles requests from applications connected to the software.
Contributor Matthew Zipkin, who posts as pinheadmz, described the issue as a memory exhaustion scenario in his patch proposal. His initial assessment said the risk was limited to authenticated clients.
Zipkin said he discovered the issue while reviewing the new HTTP server with Kimi K3. The AI model has also been used by the Bitcoin Red Team to search for vulnerabilities in Bitcoin software.
During the review of the patch, GitHub user jeanpablojp found that requests without credentials could also cause memory growth when the REST interface was enabled.
After the patch was revised, testing showed that 16 unauthenticated connections caused about 3 MB of memory growth over 90 seconds, compared with 3.2 GB before the changes.
| Bitcoin Core version | Date | Main reported changes |
| 31.1 | July 8, 2026 | Privacy, performance, wallet and network fixes |
| 32.0 | Targeted for Oct. 10 | Faster block checks, wallet changes and security fixes |
Earlier Bitcoin Core 31.1 Fixed Privacy Issue
Bitcoin Core 31.1 addressed a separate privacy problem linked to the -privatebroadcast feature introduced in version 31.0. Under certain conditions, the feature could send connections over the normal internet instead of the privacy network selected by the user.
That could expose a node’s IP address when the operator expected the connection to remain private. Bitcoin Optech identified the IP address issue as one of the key fixes in the maintenance release.
The same update also included changes involving chainstate database compaction, wallet migration, input-size estimates, and proxy handling during network reconnections. These changes were aimed at specific Bitcoin Core software issues rather than Bitcoin’s basic network rules.
A separate Bitcoin Core 30.3 release on July 8 addressed a performance problem that could cause the chainstate database to repeatedly rewrite large sections of itself. The issue could lead to excessive disk reads and writes during normal operation.
What Bitcoin Core 32.0 Means for Node Operators
Bitcoin Core 32.0 is primarily a software update for node operators and developers. Its changes focus on how Bitcoin Core checks blocks, handles wallet commands, and manages requests from connected applications.
The release does not alter Bitcoin’s basic rules or block production speed. Like the 31.1 maintenance release, the changes are within the Bitcoin Core software used to participate in the network.
Other Bitcoin-related software has also received security attention recently. BitBox patched two severe firmware flaws in August and reported no evidence of exploitation. Core Lightning developers also warned node operators about confirmed vulnerabilities while preparing fixes.
The Bitcoin Core 32.0 code was incorporated on September 5th as part of the security upgrades being done.
FAQs
What is Bitcoin Core 32.0?
Bitcoin Core 32.0 is the latest major software upgrade of Bitcoin full node software, which started the testing process of its release candidate on September 14, 2026, and it will be officially released on October 10, 2026.
When will Bitcoin Core 32.0 be released?
The software will be released October 10 but may be moved due to tests.
