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

A long-time Bitcoin developer, Paul Sztorc, has unveiled a proposal for a 2026 hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain, dubbed eCash, which aims to create a separate version of the blockchain while giving existing bitcoin holders equivalent tokens on the new network. However, the community is criticizing the plan's funding aspect, which involves reassigning coins linked to Bitcoin's mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. The concept of a hard fork is likened to a railway line splitting into two, allowing for different destinations to be reached. Sztorc's eCash hard fork will create a new chain with native eCash tokens, and holders of BTC at the time of the fork will receive equivalent eCash tokens. The new chain will be a near-copy of Bitcoin's existing blockchain, with the addition of Drivechains, a scaling architecture that allows for seamless movement of BTC between the main chain and sidechains. Drivechains are sidechains tethered to the Bitcoin blockchain, enabling developers to build new capabilities on top of Bitcoin without requiring the entire network to adopt those changes. Seven Drivechains are already in development, including a privacy chain modelled on Zcash and a decentralised exchange called CoinShift. The plan to use coins that would have gone to Satoshi Nakamoto's equivalent addresses on the new eCash chain to bring investors on board has sparked controversy, with some calling it theft. The community is concerned that this move sets a precedent that could potentially put everyone's BTC holdings at risk. Bitcoin advocates, such as Peter McCormack, have expressed disapproval, stating that taking Satoshi coins is theft and disrespectful. Josh Ellithorpe, chief technology officer at Pixelated Ink, has also raised concerns about the precedent it sets and the potential risks to BTC holdings.