A controversial proposal has emerged in the Bitcoin ecosystem: developer Paul Sztorc wants to launch a separate blockchain called "eCash" that would duplicate Bitcoin's full transaction history but change the ownership of roughly 500,000 BTC from early blocks linked to the Patoshi mining pattern. The plan targets coins widely believed to belong to Satoshi Nakamoto, though no conclusive proof exists.
How the eCash Fork Works
Under the plan, the existing Bitcoin network remains untouched. eCash would be an entirely new chain that copies Bitcoin's ledger at a specific snapshot, except for the Patoshi-era coins whose ownership gets reassigned to a new set of investors. Anyone holding BTC at the fork moment receives an equivalent amount of eCash tokens. Bitcoin's main chain ownership stays unchanged.
Divided Reactions
Sztorc stated the redistribution is meant to fund early supporters and build momentum for eCash. He emphasized it's "simply a copy of Bitcoin, and a totally new chain. Existing Bitcoin balances will be mirrored exactly." However, Bitcoin expert Jameson Lopp pushed back, calling it a separate blockchain event rather than a direct Bitcoin transfer. He drew parallels to the 2017 Bitcoin Cash fork and the 2016 Ethereum–DAO split — both produced new assets without altering the original chain. The new coin's value depends entirely on market adoption.
Dormant Coins and Quantum Fears Resurface
The proposal arrives amid ongoing anxiety over 5.6 million BTC that have sat untouched for over a decade. Some developers want to freeze these coins as protection against future quantum computing attacks that could crack old wallets. Opponents argue that Bitcoin's bedrock principle is inviolable property rights — any ownership revision, even on a fork, risks eroding trust. Experts note that while eCash won't touch mainnet BTC, it could intensify debates about dormant coins and the legitimacy of fork-based assets.
Technically, changing Bitcoin's main chain requires broad consensus. Forks like eCash live or die based on whether exchanges, miners, and investors choose to support the new asset — never a guarantee.