> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hub.bsvblockchain.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hub.bsvblockchain.org/wiki/the-network/the-bitcoin-network/version-handshake.md).

# Version Handshake

On connect, version and verack messages are exchanged, in order to ensure compatibility between peers.

1. Version Handshake When the local peer (L) connects to a remote peer (R), the remote peer will not send any data until it receives a version message. L -> R: Send version message with the local peer's version R -> L: Send version message back R -> L: Send verack message R: Sets version to the minimum of the 2 versions L -> R: Send verack message after receiving version message from R L: Sets version to the minimum of the 2 versions Note: Versions below 31800 are no longer supported.


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