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Project Overview
ECash (XEC) is the rebranded version of Bitcoin Cash ABC (BCHA), itself a fork of Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH). It is described as a "cryptocurrency designed to be used as electronic cash" and aims to be a means of transaction used to pay for goods and services.
Developer proposes to fork Bitcoin eCash, reallocate Satoshi Nakamoto's BTC holdings
Paul Sztorc, a developer who has long focused on Bitcoin scaling solutions, proposed a Bitcoin hard fork named eCash, set to occur at block height 964,000 in August 2026. Users holding BTC at the time of the fork will receive eCash on a 1:1 basis, and the new chain will introduce the Drivechains sidechain architecture. The controversy mainly centers on the plan to pre-allocate a portion of the eCash corresponding to the Satoshi Nakamoto address on the new chain to early investors, a move that has drawn criticism from the community, with some accusing it of "stealing" tokens. Paul Sztorc stated that this initiative aims to provide incentives for development and collaboration before the project's launch.
Bitcoin Developer Paul Sztorc Plans August Launch of Hard Fork eCash, Offers 1:1 BTC Exchange, Sparks Community Controversy
Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has announced the official launch of the Bitcoin hard fork network eCash in August this year. BTC holders will be able to exchange BTC for eCash at a 1:1 ratio after the hard fork goes live. It is reported that the Layer1 node software of the network will be a "near copy" of the Bitcoin Core client, continuing to use the SHA-256 hashing algorithm, with a reduced initial mining difficulty to attract more miners to participate. Additionally, eCash will be equipped with seven Layer2 scaling networks called "drivechains" to increase transaction throughput and support optional on-chain privacy features.Paul Sztorc stated that eCash differs from Bitcoin Cash in 2017, as it will no longer use the "Bitcoin" branding, positioning it as a long-term solution to Bitcoin's scalability and privacy issues. However, his proposal to manually redistribute a portion of Satoshi Nakamoto's approximately 1.1 million BTC to early investors has sparked strong controversy within the community. Some Bitcoin supporters criticize the move as potentially constituting "theft" and undermining Bitcoin's principles. (Cointelegraph)
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Bitcoin is set to undergo two fork events in 2026, with BTC holders receiving 1:1 new assets
According to Odaily, Bitcoin is set to undergo two fork events in 2026. Developer Paul Sztorc plans to launch an intentional hard fork called eCash, expected to activate around August 21 at block height 964,000. Another controversial soft fork proposal, BIP-110, has the potential to inadvertently cause a chain split during the August signaling window. A Bitcoin chain split replicates the UTXO set, giving holders 1:1 assets on both ledgers. The usability of a forked coin depends on replay protection, mining difficulty, and market conditions. Self-custodial holders, who control their private keys at the time of the snapshot, can typically sign transactions on either chain; custodial holdings, where private keys are controlled by exchanges at the time of the snapshot, mean users' eligibility for the forked coin depends on the platform's policy. (Bitcoin.com News)
Developer proposes to fork Bitcoin eCash, reallocate Satoshi Nakamoto's BTC holdings
Paul Sztorc, a developer who has long focused on Bitcoin scaling solutions, proposed a Bitcoin hard fork named eCash, set to occur at block height 964,000 in August 2026. Users holding BTC at the time of the fork will receive eCash on a 1:1 basis, and the new chain will introduce the Drivechains sidechain architecture. The controversy mainly centers on the plan to pre-allocate a portion of the eCash corresponding to the Satoshi Nakamoto address on the new chain to early investors, a move that has drawn criticism from the community, with some accusing it of "stealing" tokens. Paul Sztorc stated that this initiative aims to provide incentives for development and collaboration before the project's launch.
Bitcoin Developer Paul Sztorc Plans August Launch of Hard Fork eCash, Offers 1:1 BTC Exchange, Sparks Community Controversy
Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has announced the official launch of the Bitcoin hard fork network eCash in August this year. BTC holders will be able to exchange BTC for eCash at a 1:1 ratio after the hard fork goes live. It is reported that the Layer1 node software of the network will be a "near copy" of the Bitcoin Core client, continuing to use the SHA-256 hashing algorithm, with a reduced initial mining difficulty to attract more miners to participate. Additionally, eCash will be equipped with seven Layer2 scaling networks called "drivechains" to increase transaction throughput and support optional on-chain privacy features.Paul Sztorc stated that eCash differs from Bitcoin Cash in 2017, as it will no longer use the "Bitcoin" branding, positioning it as a long-term solution to Bitcoin's scalability and privacy issues. However, his proposal to manually redistribute a portion of Satoshi Nakamoto's approximately 1.1 million BTC to early investors has sparked strong controversy within the community. Some Bitcoin supporters criticize the move as potentially constituting "theft" and undermining Bitcoin's principles. (Cointelegraph)