Bitcoin Core 25.0 Release Notes

Overview

Bitcoin Core 25.0 introduces performance enhancements, new RPC functionalities, and improved wallet features. This release is compatible with Linux, macOS 10.15+, and Windows 7+. Key updates include network policy adjustments, Miniscript support, and optimized block filters for faster rescans.

How to Upgrade

1. Shut down older versions completely.

2. Install the new version:

   • Windows: Run the installer.
   • macOS: Replace /Applications/Bitcoin-Qt.
   • Linux: Overwrite bitcoind/bitcoin-qt.

👉 Download Bitcoin Core 25.0

Note: Upgrading from EOL versions is supported but may require data migration.

Compatibility

• Supported OS: Linux, macOS 10.15+, Windows 7+.
• Unsupported systems: Not recommended due to limited testing.

Notable Changes

P2P and Network

• Transaction Size Policy: Non-witness transactions ≥65 bytes are now relayed, expanding use cases (#26265).

New RPCs

• scanblocks: Returns blockhashes matching descriptors via BIP158 filters (#23549). Requires -blockfilterindex=1.

Updated RPCs

• verifychain: Returns false if checks are incomplete due to pruning or low dbcache (#25574).
• sendrawtransaction: New maxburnamount parameter rejects outputs exceeding specified value (default: 0).
• testmempoolaccept: Includes effective-feerate and effective-includes for package validation (#26646).

Wallet Improvements

• Miniscript Support: Spend from P2WSH Miniscript descriptors (#24149).
• Faster Rescans: Enabled by compact block filters (-blockfilterindex=1) (#25957).
• Null Characters: Wallet passphrases now support null characters (#27068).

Build System

• Removed --enable-upnp-default and --enable-natpmp-default. Configure via .conf or runtime flags (#26896).

FAQ

Q: How do I enable fast rescans?
A: Launch with -blockfilterindex=1 and use rescanblockchain or importdescriptors.

Q: Can I upgrade directly from Bitcoin Core 20.0?
A: Yes, but allow extra time for data migration.

Q: What happens if -maxconnections=0 is set?
A: Disables -dnsseed and -listen unless overridden.

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Credits

Contributors include 0xb10c, Andrew Chow, Pieter Wuille, and others. Translations by Transifex.