Veteran Developer Proposes Bitcoin Blockchain Split, Sparks Controversy Over Satoshi Coin Reassignment

A long-standing Bitcoin developer, Paul Sztorc, has unveiled a radical plan to create a separate version of the Bitcoin blockchain, called eCash, through a hard fork scheduled for August 2026. This new chain will offer equivalent tokens to existing bitcoin holders, but the proposal has sparked outrage within the community due to its intention to reassign coins linked to Bitcoin's mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. The eCash hard fork will introduce Drivechains, a scaling architecture that allows for the seamless movement of BTC between the main chain and sidechains, enabling developers to build new features without altering Bitcoin's base layer. However, the decision to use Satoshi's equivalent coins on the new chain to attract investors has been met with fierce criticism, with many labeling it as theft and expressing concerns over the precedent it sets for the future of Bitcoin holdings.