ECash Test Chain Launches Ahead of October Deadline

The eCash project has launched its test chain ahead of the October deadline for the permanent fork. The alpha stage, which took place on August 23, created separate ECX assets for Bitcoin holders but did not result in a permanent allocation. This rehearsal was a test window for miners, wallets, and exchanges to prepare for the upcoming fork.

The project's revised schedule has three stages: Alpha at roughly block height 963,648 on August 23, Beta near block height 967,680 on September 20, and permanent Mainnet launch around block height 973,728 on October 31. During the alpha stage, practice pECX was distributed to holders rather than the permanent ECX asset.

Paul Sztorc, the founder of eCash, stated that 1,000 pECX can be redeemed for 10 ECX at Mainnet. However, it is unclear whether Alpha transaction history or balances will automatically carry into Beta or Mainnet, and the project's integration guide still treats block height 963,648 as the production fork point.

The eCash fork poses unresolved risks for Bitcoin holders, and exchanges have taken different approaches to handling the new asset. While some exchanges, such as GMO Coin, have announced that they will continue to provide Bitcoin services without interruption, others have left the treatment of ECX crediting, listing, or handling undecided.