Bitcoin Gets eCash Hard Fork: Multi-Phase Upgrade to Expand Capabilities

The Bitcoin network is set to undergo a multi-phase hard fork, which will create a new cryptocurrency called eCash (ECX). The project, led by Paul Sztorc, aims to create an independent network that mirrors Bitcoin's transaction history at specific points without altering the original chain. The ECX hard fork will occur in three stages: alpha, beta, and mainnet release.

The alpha phase has begun around block height 963,648, corresponding roughly to August 23, 2026. During this period, participants can experiment with software, mining, wallet functionality, and trading of temporary practice tokens called pECX or alpha ECX. These practice units carry no permanent value but can later be burned and redeemed for a portion of the official coins once the full network is live.

The beta stage follows around September 20 at block height approximately 967,680. This intermediate step is expected to involve greater participation from exchanges, custodians, wallet providers, and miners, providing a more realistic environment for testing operational readiness. The permanent mainnet release is scheduled for around October 31 at block height near 973,728.

At the mainnet snapshot, permanent ECX balances will be assigned on a one-to-one basis with Bitcoin holdings at that time for nearly all addresses. Bitcoin itself remains completely unaffected; holders simply gain an additional asset on the new chain. The core purpose of ECX is to enable drivechains, opt-in sidechains that support features such as enhanced scalability, privacy, and experimentation, while leaving Bitcoin's base-layer rules intact.