Bitcoin has just seen the emergence of a new parallel chain. eCash launched its Alpha phase on August 23 at block 963 648. No real ECX for BTC holders yet: the units currently produced are used for testing. The final hard fork remains scheduled for around October 31, at block 973,728. Until then, several technical questions remain open.
In brief
- eCash launched its Alpha channel on August 23 at block 963,648.
- The real Bitcoin hard fork remains scheduled for around October 31.
- The real Bitcoin hard fork remains scheduled for around October 31.
Bitcoin sees the first eCash chain appear
The August 23 launch does not yet correspond to the final fork. eCash had already been presented as one of the two major forks planned around Bitcoin in 2026. The Alpha phase began at block 963,648. The chain produced its own blocks in parallel with Bitcoin. BTC continued to operate normally.
The coins created during this period are named pECX. These are practice units intended to test the network before its final launch. Not yet permanent ECXs. The schedule provides for a second repetition on September 20, around block 967 680. The passage to Mainnet should then arrive around October 31 at block 973 728.
At that time, Bitcoin addresses must receive ECX at a ratio of 1 to 1. The project is led by Paul Sztorc, known for his work on Drivechain and the BIP-300 and BIP-301. His idea is not to replace Bitcoin. eCash wants to start from its history and then continue with its own rules.
The test has not yet resolved all the problems
Alpha at least showed that the new chain could produce blocks. The first start-up, however, does not look like an already stabilized network. A competing block that had become obsolete was notably observed around the activation height.
For a test chain, nothing extraordinary. There is still September to start again. The issue of replay attacks matters more to Bitcoin holders. eCash uses address formats similar to those of BTC and protection against replay does not yet seem to be imposed everywhere.
A transaction broadcast on one chain could therefore, under certain conditions, cause a problem on the other if the coins have not been correctly separated. The exchanges are already looking at the file. Coincheck indicated that it may temporarily suspend BTC deposits and withdrawals around the fork if security requires it. Other platforms have not yet announced whether they will distribute ECX to their customers.
Bitcoin is just emerging from another episode of division. The BIP-110 fork had only produced two blocks in its first eight hours. eCash tries another method. Alpha first. Beta then. The real fork at the end.
October 31 remains the real date to watch
For BTC holders, nothing has changed yet. Bitcoins stay on Bitcoin. The pECX produced today do not yet represent the permanent balance promised during Mainnet.
October 31 must change the situation. From the planned block, eCash wants to take over the state of addresses Bitcoin and credit holders in ECX. Users who keep their own keys will then theoretically have the means to access the coins present on both chains.
For BTC held on an exchange, it will be different. The platform will control the keys and decide whether it supports the new asset. The project must also convince miners. A chain from Bitcoin with little computing power can work, but it starts with much lower security than the main network.
The community already knows the problem. The eCash project had attracted criticism since its presentation, particularly on its technical and economic choices. The Alpha launch does not resolve this debate. It simply shows that the rehearsal has started. September will bring the second. On October 31, eCash will have to play for real.
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