Bitcoin Core 31.1rc1 Patches IP Privacy Leak

The primary fix targets the PrivateBroadcast feature, which previously allowed connections outside of designated privacy networks under specific conditions. By tightening how the software handles proxy settings and broadcast traffic, developers have ensured that transaction data remains shielded from unintended exposure. Beyond the privacy patch, the update introduces structural improvements to blockchain validation. The software now manages transaction data with greater efficiency, curbing unnecessary database bloat as the chain continues to expand.

Wallet operations also see refinement, with improved migration checks and more precise transaction input size estimations. Security is further bolstered by updates to the MuSig2 signature aggregation protocol, which now explicitly rejects empty or invalid public key lists to prevent validation failures in multi-signature environments. Developers have also implemented safeguards for configuration files, adding checks for failed disk writes to prevent data corruption. The project team urges node operators to deploy this candidate in test environments to verify stability, as feedback remains the final hurdle before the official production release.