Bitcoin Developer's Plan to Split Blockchain Sparks Controversy Over 'Theft' of Satoshi Coins

Veteran Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has unveiled a proposal for a significant overhaul of the Bitcoin network, involving a hard fork in August 2026 to launch a separate chain called eCash. The plan includes giving existing bitcoin holders equivalent tokens on the new network, but a key aspect of the proposal has sparked intense criticism: the reassignment of coins linked to Bitcoin's mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. Sztorc's idea involves creating a new chain, eCash, which will be a near-identical copy of the current Bitcoin blockchain but with the addition of Drivechains, a scaling solution he first proposed in 2015. Drivechains are essentially sidechains that can operate under their own rules, allowing for more flexibility and scalability without altering the main Bitcoin chain. However, the decision to use coins that would have gone to Satoshi Nakamoto's equivalent addresses on the new eCash chain to attract investors before the fork has been met with widespread disapproval, with some labeling it as 'theft'. The plan is to assign fewer than half of the Satoshi-equivalent eCash coins to investors, with the precise mechanism remaining unclear. Sztorc argues that this approach will provide a tangible incentive for collaborators to get involved early, ensuring the project's momentum and preventing it from becoming a 'zombie project' or falling under centralized control. Nevertheless, industry figures such as Peter McCormack and Josh Ellithorpe have voiced strong objections, citing concerns over the precedent it sets and the potential risks to all BTC holdings.