Bitcoin Developer Proposes 'eCash' Hard Fork with Controversial Satoshi Coin Reallocation

Long-time Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc has announced plans for a hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain, aiming to launch a new network called eCash in August 2026. The proposed split, scheduled for block height 964,000, would allow existing Bitcoin holders to receive an equivalent amount of eCash tokens for free. The core of the proposal is the implementation of 'Drivechains,' a scaling architecture Sztorc has advocated for since 2015. These sidechains would allow for specialized functions—such as privacy, decentralized exchanges, and quantum resistance—without altering Bitcoin's base layer. Seven Drivechains are reportedly already in development, including a privacy chain modeled on Zcash and a prediction market called Truthcoin. The most contentious aspect of the plan involves the reallocation of coins associated with Bitcoin's anonymous founder, Satoshi Nakamoto. Sztorc intends to use a portion of the Satoshi-equivalent eCash balances to incentivize investors before the fork goes live, a move he describes as necessary for funding. The Bitcoin community has reacted sharply to this funding mechanism, with some critics labeling the reassignment of founder coins as theft. However, because the fork creates a separate chain, the original Bitcoin (BTC) assets and their ownership remain entirely unaffected on the main network.