eCash Fork Set for October 31, 2026: What it Means for Bitcoin Holders

A permanent split from the Bitcoin blockchain is scheduled for October 31, 2026, carrying the name eCash and the ticker ECX. This fork is a change to the rules by which the network accepts valid blocks, resulting in two blockchains existing from that point onwards.

The new chain will be an attempt to implement a concept called a drivechain, proposed by Paul Sztorc, founder of LayerTwo Labs, in 2015. The fork is divided into three stages: Alpha on August 23, 2026 (block 963,648), Beta on September 20, 2026 (block 967,680), and the permanent launch on October 31, 2026 (block 973,728).

The new chain will have its own software, miners, and market price. A balance in someone else's custody follows someone else's decisions, but if you hold the private keys yourself, you need nobody's consent.