<p>The state transition diagram of BIP 8 is <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0008.mediawiki#state-transitions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
<p>The specific change you refer to was made in this <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/pull/1020" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BIP PR</a> by AJ Towns. Once we move into the LOCKED_IN phase of BIP 8 the soft fork is definitely going to activate at some point and so any requirement to signal is unnecessary. The MUST_SIGNAL phase makes it clear to the network that signaling is being enforced by the network. In the LOCKED_IN phase (which only begins after a difficulty adjustment period, 2016 blocks, where the threshold of signaling has been met) it is clear to the network that the soft fork rules will be enforced in future.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-22T10:38:49.823Z
2021-03-22T13:30:22.907Z
2021-03-22T13:30:22.907Z
Michael Folkson
<p>Why is there no forced signaling during the LOCKED_IN phase of BIP 8(LOT=true)?</p>
<p>During the <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/102585/what-is-the-benefit-of-forced-signaling-in-a-soft-fork-activation-mechanism">MUST_SIGNAL phase</a> of BIP 8(LOT=true) a threshold of miners have to signal. The next phase after MUST_SIGNAL is LOCKED_IN. Signaling in the LOCKED_IN phase is recommended rather than mandatory. Why?</p>

<soft-fork><taproot><activation-mechanism><bip8-version-bits>
Why is there no forced signaling during the LOCKED_IN phase of BIP 8(LOT=true)?
Michael Folkson
# Why is there no forced signaling during the LOCKED_IN phase of BIP 8(LOT=true)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-03-22)

Why is there no forced signaling during the LOCKED\_IN phase of BIP 8(LOT=true)?

During the [MUST\_SIGNAL phase](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/102585/what-is-the-benefit-of-forced-signaling-in-a-soft-fork-activation-mechanism) of BIP 8(LOT=true) a threshold of miners have to signal. The next phase after MUST\_SIGNAL is LOCKED\_IN. Signaling in the LOCKED\_IN phase is recommended rather than mandatory. Why?

**Tags:** soft-fork, taproot, activation-mechanism, bip8-version-bits


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2021-03-22. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

The state transition diagram of BIP 8 is [here](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0008.mediawiki#state-transitions).

The specific change you refer to was made in this [BIP PR](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/pull/1020) by AJ Towns. Once we move into the LOCKED\_IN phase of BIP 8 the soft fork is definitely going to activate at some point and so any requirement to signal is unnecessary. The MUST\_SIGNAL phase makes it clear to the network that signaling is being enforced by the network. In the LOCKED\_IN phase (which only begins after a difficulty adjustment period, 2016 blocks, where the threshold of signaling has been met) it is clear to the network that the soft fork rules will be enforced in future.


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