Major Bitcoin Core update changes default wallet protocols, risking temporary disruption across popular apps

Bitcoin Core v32.0rc1 has turned the Sept. 14–Oct. 10 window into a concentrated compatibility test for node operators, wallet providers and services that depend on Bitcoin Core's RPC interfaces.The candidate was tagged with a verified signature on Sept. 14. The live release schedule lists Oct. 10 as the aim for the final v32.0 tag, leaving a 26-day elapsed interval. CryptoSlate's August preview recorded a Sept. 10 RC1 target, while the live schedule now shows Sept. 14, creating a four-day discrepancy without establishing that an unchanged deadline was missed.The v32.0rc1 tag identifies prerelease software, not a production-final upgrade. It also does not signal a new consensus-rule activation. One change tied to draft BIP 323 alters how Bitcoin Core treats signaling bits and unknown-deployment warnings, but the proposal itself remains in Draft status.Operators can begin with the high-level pattern in Bitcoin Core's most recent RC testing guide: exercise regularly used features in separate temporary data directories and compare the candidate with the prior release. The official download page lists 31.1 as the current baseline. That comparison can expose differences in node startup,...