Bitcoin Developer Proposes eCash Hard Fork, Faces Backlash Over Satoshi Coin Reassignment

Renowned Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has unveiled a proposal for a hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain, dubbed eCash, which is set to launch in August 2026. The proposed fork aims to create a new chain with its own native tokens, while giving existing Bitcoin holders equivalent tokens on the new network. However, the community is up in arms over Sztorc's plan to reassign coins linked to Bitcoin's mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, to investors prior to the fork. The eCash hard fork will incorporate a scaling architecture known as Drivechains, allowing for the seamless movement of BTC between the main chain and sidechains. The plan has been met with widespread criticism, with many labeling the reassignment of Satoshi coins as 'theft' and expressing concerns over the precedent it sets for the future of Bitcoin.