Bitcoin holders face unresolved fork risks as new eCash test chain launches ahead of October deadline
An eCash fork, which might create a separate ECX asset for Bitcoin holders, produced Alpha-chain blocks from peak 963,648 on Aug. 23. The everlasting fork didn’t occur: the challenge’s current roadmap now locations the 1:1 allocation of everlasting ECX at a Mainnet launch round Bitcoin block 973,728 on Oct. 31.
For holders, miners and exchanges, Aug. 23 turned a rehearsal fairly than the everlasting allocation occasion. Bitcoin possession didn’t change, observe pECX just isn’t everlasting ECX, and public alternate notices didn’t present a common freeze of Bitcoin providers.
What the Alpha chain proved
The eCash Alpha explorer confirmed a block at peak 963,648 and the chain advancing by way of at the very least 963,650. It additionally flagged a stale competing block on the opening peak, proof of a younger rehearsal community fairly than a settled manufacturing chain.
Bitcoin’s personal file was separate. Mempool.space resolved Bitcoin block 963,648 to hash 00000000000000000001769d9a327f5b455aa8a2dd407b1b63040d2a9f832d32 and displayed a timestamp of 2026-08-23 01:48:47. Together, the 2 information present an Alpha chain operating alongside Bitcoin, not a everlasting alternative for it.
What stays earlier than the eCash fork
The revised schedule has three levels: Alpha at roughly 963,648 on Aug. 23, Beta close to 967,680 on Sept. 20 and everlasting Mainnet close to 973,728 on Oct. 31. Alpha and Beta produce observe pECX fairly than the everlasting 1:1 stability copied from Bitcoin.
The challenge says observe models might be burned for actual ECX at Mainnet. Founder Paul Sztorc said 1,000 pECX might be redeemed for 10 ECX. The provided proof doesn’t set up that Alpha transaction historical past or balances routinely carry into Beta or Mainnet, so pECX just isn’t an early everlasting allocation.
The manufacturing handoff can be unfinished. The challenge’s integration guide, final up to date Aug. 11 and marked pre-launch, nonetheless treats 963,648 as the manufacturing fork level and labels key values as drynet4 parameters. It says the ultimate fork hash, software program department or tag and replay scheme can be printed later.
Current coin-splitting guidance makes use of an opt-in nLockTime of 499999999 for ECX transactions, however tells integrators to confirm the ultimate scheme earlier than launch.
Pre-Alpha notices typically stored Bitcoin providers accessible whereas reserving later risk-based adjustments. GMO Coin stated lined Bitcoin providers would proceed. Coincheck, SBI VC Trade and Zaif printed related continuity plans.
Their therapy of the new asset was completely different. GMO stated it will not deal with pECX or ECX throughout Alpha and Beta, whereas Coincheck, SBI and Zaif left later ECX crediting, itemizing or dealing with undecided.
The eCash fork’s Aug. 23 Alpha stage was subsequently low-impact for BTC possession however nonetheless operationally helpful as a test window. For miners, wallets and exchanges, the following manufacturing goal is Oct. 31, and remaining software program and replay particulars stay the important thing checkpoint.
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