Next Bitcoin Software Update Will Be First to Feature SegWit Code

A forthcoming bitcoin software update will be the first to feature code that could be later activated and included as part of an effort to scale transaction capacity on the bitcoin blockchain.
Called the “most significant code change” in version 0.13.0, the new code added for Segregated Witness will not activate the change, but rather be the next step in preparing it to be eventually deployed, potentially in version 0.13.1.
The software update is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
While the feature has been tested extensively, bitcoin developers are seeking to democratize testing by activating the feature on the bitcoin testnet and in “regression testing mode”, allowing a wider range of developers to test it out for themselves and report potential bugs or issues.
By adding the code now, Bitcoin Core developers believe Segregated Witness will be smoother and safer when released.

This post was published at Coin Desk on August 18, 2016.