Veteran Developer Proposes Bitcoin Hard Fork, eCash, Amidst Community Backlash Over Satoshi Coin Reallocation

Paul Sztorc, a long-time Bitcoin developer, has unveiled a proposal for a hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain, dubbed eCash, which is slated to launch in August 2026. The proposed hard fork aims to create a new chain with its own native tokens, where existing bitcoin holders will receive equivalent tokens for free. However, the community has raised concerns over the funding mechanism, which involves reassigning coins linked to Bitcoin's mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. Sztorc's plan has sparked intense debate, with some critics labeling it as 'theft' and 'disrespectful.' The proposed eCash hard fork will introduce Drivechains, a scaling architecture that enables seamless movement of BTC between the main chain and sidechains, without altering Bitcoin's base layer. The new chain will be a near-identical copy of the existing Bitcoin blockchain, with the addition of Drivechains. Seven Drivechains are already in development, including a privacy chain modelled on Zcash, a prediction market, and a decentralised exchange. The community's negative response has centered on the plan to use coins that would have gone to Satoshi Nakamoto's equivalent addresses on the new eCash chain to attract investors before the fork goes live. Critics argue that this move sets a dangerous precedent and could potentially put everyone's BTC holdings at risk.