Bitcoin Developer's Plan to Split Blockchain and Reassign Satoshi Coins Sparks Outrage

A long-time Bitcoin developer, Paul Sztorc, has unveiled a plan to create a separate version of the Bitcoin blockchain, called eCash, which would give existing bitcoin holders equivalent tokens in the new network. The proposed hard fork, scheduled for August 2026, aims to introduce a new scaling architecture called Drivechains, allowing for more flexible and efficient transactions. However, the plan has been met with criticism from the community, particularly regarding the reassignment of coins linked to Bitcoin's missing founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. Sztorc's plan involves using these coins to incentivize investors to participate in the project before the fork goes live, a move that some have labeled as theft. The community's response has been largely negative, with concerns about the precedent it sets and the potential risks to everyone's BTC holdings.