Владельцы биткоина готовятся получить eCash: анонсирован поэтапный хард-форк сети

Bitcoin owners are getting ready to claim an equivalent amount of a new cryptocurrency known as eCash, or ECX, as a planned hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain moves into its initial phase. The project, developed by LayerTwo Labs under the leadership of longtime Bitcoin contributor Paul Sztorc, aims to create an independent network that mirrors Bitcoin’s transaction history at specific points without altering the original Bitcoin chain in any way. Rather than launching as a single event, the ECX hard fork is proceeding through three deliberate stages to allow testing, infrastructure preparation, and community familiarization. The alpha phase activates around Bitcoin block height 963,648, corresponding roughly to August 23, 2026. During this period, participants can experiment with software, mining, wallet functionality, and trading of temporary practice tokens referred to as pECX or alpha ECX. These practice units carry no permanent value on their own but can later be burned and redeemed for a portion of the official coins once the full network is live. A beta stage follows around September 20 at block height approximately 967,680. This intermediate step is expected to involve greater participation from exchanges, custodians, wallet providers, and miners, providing a more realistic environment for testing operational readiness. The permanent mainnet release is scheduled for around October 31 at block height near 973,728. That date coincides with the 18th anniversary of the publication of Satoshi Nakamoto’s original Bitcoin white paper, adding symbolic weight to the full launch. At the mainnet snapshot, permanent ECX balances will be assigned on a one-to-one basis with Bitcoin holdings at that time for nearly all addresses. Bitcoin itself remains completely unaffected; holders simply gain an additional asset on the new chain. The core purpose of ECX is to enable drivechains—opt-in sidechains that support features such as enhanced scalability, privacy, and experimentation—while leaving Bitcoin’s base-layer rules intact. The new network uses the same SHA-256 proof-of-work mechanism as Bitcoin, with a temporary difficulty reset at activation to facilitate early mining. Replay protection is available on an opt-in basis through official software, which warns users before transactions; without intentional separation of assets, movements of Bitcoin could affect corresponding ECX holdings. Most Bitcoin holders who control their private keys at the relevant snapshot heights will automatically receive matching ECX without needing to register or file claims. A portion of early Satoshi-era coins on the new chain is handled differently to support development, but this applies only to ECX and leaves actual Bitcoin balances untouched. Holders keeping assets on exchanges should monitor those platforms’ policies, as some may implement temporary freezes or decide independently whether and how to credit the new tokens. The phased approach gives the ecosystem roughly twelve weeks between the alpha start and the permanent release to identify issues, build support, and prepare tools. Practice coins earned in the earlier stages can be exchanged for official ECX after mainnet activation, creating incentives for early testing. While adoption by major infrastructure providers remains an open question and community support has been limited so far, the project positions itself as a way to expand Bitcoin’s capabilities through a separate, compatible ledger. As the alpha phase begins, attention turns to practical steps: verifying self-custody of keys, reviewing wallet compatibility, and watching for official software releases. The original Bitcoin network continues operating without interruption, and the success of ECX will ultimately depend on participation, liquidity, and the usefulness of its planned sidechains.