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

Veteran Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has unveiled a contentious plan to create a separate version of the Bitcoin blockchain, called eCash, through a hard fork in August 2026. The proposed fork will give existing bitcoin holders equivalent tokens on the new network, but the community is up in arms over the plan to reassign coins linked to Bitcoin's mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. Sztorc's proposal involves copying Bitcoin's code to launch the eCash chain, which will include a scaling architecture called Drivechains. This feature allows for the seamless movement of BTC between the main chain and sidechains without altering Bitcoin's base layer. However, the plan to use Satoshi-equivalent coins on the new chain to attract investors has been met with fierce criticism, with some calling it outright theft. The community is concerned that this move could set a dangerous precedent and potentially put everyone's BTC holdings at risk.