diff --git a/doc/developer-notes.md b/doc/developer-notes.md
--- a/doc/developer-notes.md
+++ b/doc/developer-notes.md
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@
 
 - ThreadScriptCheck : Verifies block scripts.
 
-- ThreadImport : Loads blocks from blk*.dat files or bootstrap.dat.
+- ThreadImport : Loads blocks from `blk*.dat` files or `-loadblock=<file>`.
 
 - StartNode : Starts other threads.
 
diff --git a/doc/release-notes.md b/doc/release-notes.md
--- a/doc/release-notes.md
+++ b/doc/release-notes.md
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
   information. This option is experimental and subject to changes or removal in
   future releases.
 
+- Importing blocks upon startup via the `bootstrap.dat` file no longer occurs
+  by default. The file must now be specified with `-loadblock=<file>`.
+
 Build system changes
 --------------------
 
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@
                            DEFAULT_MAX_REORG_DEPTH),
                  ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::OPTIONS);
     gArgs.AddArg("-loadblock=<file>",
-                 "Imports blocks from external blk000??.dat file on startup",
+                 "Imports blocks from external file on startup",
                  ArgsManager::ALLOW_ANY, OptionsCategory::OPTIONS);
     gArgs.AddArg("-maxmempool=<n>",
                  strprintf("Keep the transaction memory pool below <n> "
@@ -1331,21 +1331,6 @@
             LoadGenesisBlock(chainParams);
         }
 
-        // hardcoded $DATADIR/bootstrap.dat
-        fs::path pathBootstrap = GetDataDir() / "bootstrap.dat";
-        if (fs::exists(pathBootstrap)) {
-            FILE *file = fsbridge::fopen(pathBootstrap, "rb");
-            if (file) {
-                fs::path pathBootstrapOld = GetDataDir() / "bootstrap.dat.old";
-                LogPrintf("Importing bootstrap.dat...\n");
-                LoadExternalBlockFile(config, file);
-                RenameOver(pathBootstrap, pathBootstrapOld);
-            } else {
-                LogPrintf("Warning: Could not open bootstrap file %s\n",
-                          pathBootstrap.string());
-            }
-        }
-
         // -loadblock=
         for (const fs::path &path : vImportFiles) {
             FILE *file = fsbridge::fopen(path, "rb");