Bitcoin's ECX Hard Fork Set for October 31 Launch

A new hard fork of Bitcoin called ECX is launching on October 31, 2026. This will create a separate blockchain that mirrors Bitcoin's ledger and issues ecash (ECX) coins 1:1 to BTC holders at the time of the snapshot.

Developed by Paul Sztorc and Layertwo Labs, ECX aims to support specialized sidechains without changing Bitcoin's base rules. The rollout includes alpha and beta phases for testing before the permanent mainnet launch.

BTC holders with self-custody wallets will directly receive ECX, while those on exchanges depend on custodian support. ECX is an independent network, not altering Bitcoin itself, and plans to offer new features through sidechains.