Bitcoin Developer Proposes eCash Hard Fork, Sparking Controversy Over Satoshi Coin Reassignment

Veteran Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has unveiled a proposal for a hard fork, dubbed eCash, which would create a separate version of the Bitcoin blockchain in August 2026, allowing existing bitcoin holders to receive equivalent tokens on the new network. The proposed fork has sparked intense debate within the community, particularly regarding the reassignment of coins linked to Bitcoin's mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. Sztorc's plan involves using the eCash equivalent of Satoshi's coins to incentivize investors and collaborators to participate in the project before the fork goes live. However, many have criticized this move, labeling it as 'theft' and 'disrespectful'. The eCash hard fork is scheduled to occur at Bitcoin block height 964,000 in August 2026 and will introduce Drivechains, a scaling architecture that enables the creation of sidechains tethered to the Bitcoin blockchain. Seven Drivechains are already in development, including a privacy chain, a prediction market, and a decentralized exchange. The controversy surrounding the reassignment of Satoshi coins has drawn negative responses from industry experts, who argue that it sets a dangerous precedent and could potentially put everyone's BTC holdings at risk.