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

Veteran Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has unveiled a proposal for a 2026 hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain, dubbed eCash, which would create a new network with its own tokens and incorporate a scaling solution called Drivechains. However, the community has expressed outrage over the plan to reassign coins linked to Bitcoin's mysterious founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, to investors, with some labeling it as 'theft'. The proposed hard fork would occur at Bitcoin block height 964,000 in August 2026, and would give existing bitcoin holders equivalent tokens in the new network. The eCash network would be a near-identical copy of the Bitcoin blockchain, with the addition of Drivechains, which are sidechains that allow for seamless movement of BTC between the main chain and sidechains. Sztorc argues that the reassignment of Satoshi coins is necessary to incentivize collaborators and prevent the project from becoming a 'zombie project'. However, the move has been met with widespread criticism, with some experts warning that it sets a dangerous precedent and could potentially put everyone's BTC holdings at risk.