Bitcoin Developer's Plan to Split Blockchain and Reassign Satoshi Coins Sparks Outrage

Veteran Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has unveiled a radical plan to create a separate version of the Bitcoin blockchain, called eCash, which would launch in August 2026 and give existing bitcoin holders equivalent tokens on the new network. However, the community is up in arms over the proposal's funding mechanism, which involves reassigning coins linked to Bitcoin's mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. Sztorc's plan, which includes the addition of Drivechains, a scaling architecture he first proposed in 2015, aims to breathe new life into Bitcoin's architecture, but critics argue that the reassignment of Satoshi's coins amounts to theft. The proposed hard fork has sparked a heated debate, with some industry experts warning that it sets a dangerous precedent and could put everyone's BTC holdings at risk.