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

Veteran Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has unveiled a plan to create a separate version of the Bitcoin blockchain, called eCash, through a hard fork in August 2026. Existing bitcoin holders will receive equivalent tokens on the new network. However, the community is up in arms over the proposal to reassign coins linked to Satoshi Nakamoto, with some accusing Sztorc of theft. The eCash hard fork will introduce Drivechains, a scaling architecture that enables seamless movement of BTC between the main chain and sidechains. Sztorc argues that reassigning Satoshi-equivalent eCash coins to investors is necessary to build momentum and prevent the project from becoming centralized. The move has sparked a heated debate, with industry experts expressing concerns over the precedent it sets and the potential risks to BTC holdings.