Bitcoin Developer Paul Sztorc Announces eCash Hard Fork with 1:1 BTC Exchange, Sparking Community Controversy

Gate News message, April 25 — Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc announced the launch of eCash, a Bitcoin hard fork network that will allow BTC holders to exchange their holdings at a 1:1 ratio for eCash tokens following the network’s activation. The Layer 1 node software will be a near-replica of the Bitcoin Core client, continuing to use the SHA-256 hashing algorithm while reducing initial mining difficulty to attract more miners.

eCash will feature seven Layer 2 scaling networks called “drivechains” designed to increase transaction throughput and support optional on-chain privacy features. The network differs from Bitcoin Cash (launched in 2017) by not using the “Bitcoin” branding, and Sztorc described it as a long-term solution to Bitcoin’s scalability and privacy challenges.

However, Sztorc’s proposal to manually reallocate a portion of Satoshi Nakamoto’s approximately 1.1 million BTC to early investors has triggered significant community backlash. Some Bitcoin advocates criticized the plan as “theft” and accused it of violating core Bitcoin principles.

The project represents a distinct approach from previous Bitcoin forks, with Sztorc emphasizing eCash’s technical improvements while facing criticism over its governance and wealth redistribution mechanisms.