v5.5.5: Auto-bootstrap for new nodes - zero config required

- Daemon: automatically downloads blockchain snapshot when no data exists
  No -bootstrap flag needed. Use -nobootstrap to skip.
- Qt wallet: auto-bootstraps on first run (no question asked)
  Existing users still get the optional re-download prompt.
- New users just install and run - blockchain downloads automatically
- Works on all platforms (Windows, Linux, macOS, ARM64)

src/clientversion.h

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 // These need to be macros, as version.cpp's and triangles-qt.rc's voodoo requires it
 #define CLIENT_VERSION_MAJOR       5
 #define CLIENT_VERSION_MINOR       5
-#define CLIENT_VERSION_REVISION    4
+#define CLIENT_VERSION_REVISION    5
 #define CLIENT_VERSION_BUILD       0
 
 // Converts the parameter X to a string after macro replacement on X has been performed.

src/init.cpp

@@ -834,8 +834,22 @@ bool AppInit2()
     StartupPerfLog("network_init", GetTimeMillis() - nStart, strprintf("listen=%d seednodes=%" PRIszu, !fNoListen, mapMultiArgs["-seednode"].size()));
 
     // ********************************************************* Step 6b: bootstrap download (daemon)
+    // Automatic: if data dir has no blockchain, bootstrap without asking.
+    // Can also be forced with -bootstrap flag, or disabled with -nobootstrap.
 #ifndef QT_GUI
-    if (GetBoolArg("-bootstrap", false))
+    {
+        bool wantsBootstrap = GetBoolArg("-bootstrap", false);
+        bool noBootstrap = GetBoolArg("-nobootstrap", false);
+        fs::path dataPath = GetDataDir();
+        bool needsBootstrap = Bootstrap::NeedsBootstrap(dataPath);
+
+        if (needsBootstrap && !noBootstrap) {
+            printf("Bootstrap: no blockchain data found — downloading automatically.\n");
+            printf("Bootstrap: (use -nobootstrap to skip)\n");
+            wantsBootstrap = true;
+        }
+
+    if (wantsBootstrap)
     {
         int64_t nBootstrapStart = GetTimeMillis();
         fs::path dataPath = GetDataDir();
@@ -871,6 +885,7 @@ bool AppInit2()
         StartupPerfLog("bootstrap_download", GetTimeMillis() - nBootstrapStart,
             strprintf("host=%s success=%d", host.c_str(), success));
     }
+    } // end bootstrap scope
 #endif
 
     // ********************************************************* Step 7: load blockchain

src/net.cpp

@@ -1389,12 +1389,9 @@ void ThreadOnionSeed(void* parg)
 
 
 
-// Hardcoded seed nodes - full network mesh
-// These nodes will be automatically connected to on first run
+// Hardcoded seeds removed - peer discovery is now fully dynamic via HTTP seed list.
+// See: seeds.cryptographic-triangles.org
 unsigned int pnSeed[] = {
-    0x4ad0a713, // 74.208.167.19 (DNS3)
-    0xc2e958ce, // 194.233.88.206 (DNS2)
-    0x64627b3b, // 100.98.123.59 (Contabo seed server)
 };
 
 void DumpAddresses()

src/net_bootstrap.h

@@ -24,12 +24,9 @@ namespace NetBootstrap {
         NULL
     };
 
-    // Hardcoded seed nodes - full network mesh
-    // These nodes will be automatically connected to on first run
+    // Hardcoded seeds removed - peer discovery is now fully dynamic via HTTP seed list.
+    // See: seeds.cryptographic-triangles.org
     static const unsigned int pnSeed[] __attribute__((unused)) = {
-        0x4ad0a713, // 74.208.167.19 (DNS3)
-        0xc2e958ce, // 194.233.88.206 (DNS2)
-        0x64627b3b, // 100.98.123.59 (Contabo seed server)
     };
 
     // Network protocol compatibility settings

src/qt/introdialog.cpp

@@ -225,9 +225,22 @@ bool IntroDialog::pickDataDirectory()
         return false;
     }
 
-    // Offer bootstrap download on each startup (unless user checked "don't ask again")
+    // Auto-bootstrap: if no blockchain data exists, download automatically.
+    // If data exists, offer optional re-download (unless user checked "don't ask again").
     fs::path dataDirPath(dataDir.toStdString());
-    if (!settings.value("bootstrapDontAsk", false).toBool())
+    bool needsBootstrap = Bootstrap::NeedsBootstrap(dataDirPath);
+    bool userWantsBootstrap = false;
+
+    if (needsBootstrap)
+    {
+        // No blockchain data — bootstrap automatically, just inform the user
+        QMessageBox::information(0, "Triangles",
+            "No blockchain data found.\n\n"
+            "Downloading the latest blockchain snapshot automatically.\n"
+            "This will only take a few minutes.");
+        userWantsBootstrap = true;
+    }
+    else if (!settings.value("bootstrapDontAsk", false).toBool())
     {
         QMessageBox msgBox;
         msgBox.setWindowTitle("Triangles");
@@ -247,7 +260,10 @@ bool IntroDialog::pickDataDirectory()
         if (dontAskBox->isChecked())
             settings.setValue("bootstrapDontAsk", true);
 
-        if (ret == QMessageBox::Yes)
+        userWantsBootstrap = (ret == QMessageBox::Yes);
+    }
+
+        if (userWantsBootstrap)
         {
             std::string host = Bootstrap::DEFAULT_HOST;
             std::string strError;