The technology of bitcoin is set for major changes in 2018 , with several projects scheduled . Among them is the wider adoption of the segwit upgrade , originally activated in August , thanks to the new bech32 address format , scheduled for a March release . Also planned is the launch of bitcoin 's Security Network , offering secure , instant confirmations and near - free transfers , while privacy solutions ZeroLink and Trust are set to make the network more secure . Activation of segwit will also make it easier to improve cryptographic security by facilitating the use of Schnorr encryption , which would reduce transaction costs and increase bitcoin 's maximum capacity .
The technology underpinning bitcoin is set for major changes in 2018, with several projects scheduled. Among them is the wider adoption of the segwit upgrade, originally activated in August, thanks to the new bech32 address format, scheduled for a March release. Also expected is the launch of bitcoin's Lightning Network, offering secure, instant confirmations and near-free transfers, while privacy solutions ZeroLink and TumbleBit are set to make the network more secure. Activation of segwit will also make it easier to improve cryptographic signatures by facilitating the use of Schnorr signatures, which would reduce transaction costs and increase bitcoin's maximum capacity.