Veteran Developer Proposes Bitcoin Hard Fork, Faces Backlash Over Satoshi Coin Reassignment

Paul Sztorc, a long-time Bitcoin developer, has been attempting to revamp the cryptocurrency's architecture since 2015. However, his latest proposal, called eCash, has sparked controversy within the community. The plan involves creating a separate version of the Bitcoin blockchain in August 2026, giving existing bitcoin holders equivalent tokens in the new network. The proposed hard fork will also introduce Drivechains, a scaling architecture that allows for seamless movement of BTC between the main chain and sidechains. Nevertheless, the community is criticizing the funding part of the proposal, which involves reassigning coins linked to Bitcoin's missing founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. Sztorc wants to use coins that would have gone to Satoshi Nakamoto's equivalent addresses on the new eCash chain to bring investors on board before the fork goes live. The community is calling this move theft and disrespectful. The plan has been met with negative responses from industry experts, with some expressing concerns about the precedent it sets and how it could eventually be a risk to everyone's BTC holdings.