Bitcoin Developer's Plan to Create eCash Hard Fork Sparks Controversy Over Satoshi Coin Reassignment

Veteran Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has unveiled a bold plan to launch a hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain, dubbed eCash, which would create a separate version of the network and provide existing bitcoin holders with equivalent tokens. The proposed hard fork, scheduled for August 2026, aims to introduce Drivechains, a scaling architecture that would enable seamless movement of BTC between the main chain and sidechains. However, the plan has been met with criticism from the community, particularly with regards to the reassignment of coins linked to Bitcoin's missing founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, with some accusing Sztorc of theft. The eCash hard fork would involve copying Bitcoin's code and launching a separate chain, with the new network having its own rules, features, and token. The community is divided over the proposal, with some expressing concerns over the precedent it sets and the potential risks to BTC holdings.