On 21 August at approximately block ~964,000, a planned fork will create a new chain named eCash and distribute $ECX one for one to existing $BTC holders.

Origin and initiator

The fork was initiated by developer Paul Sztorc after years of attempts to integrate Drivechains into Bitcoin Core. He chose to implement the changes by forking the network, leaving the original Bitcoin chain operational while launching a separate protocol with modified rules for the new chain.

What Drivechains propose

Drivechains are designed to enable many layer‑2 sidechains that use Bitcoin as a native currency without altering Bitcoin Core. The concept aims to support specialized chains for privacy, decentralized exchanges, prediction markets and NFT infrastructure.

Distribution mechanics and holder guidance

According to project information, holders with BTC in self‑custodial wallets should receive ECX tokens automatically on the new chain after the fork. Balances held on exchanges will depend on whether each platform elects to support the fork and credit users accordingly.

Replay protection and coin splitting

The project plans to publish a separate coin‑splitter tool to help users separate their BTC and ECX balances safely, reducing the risk of replayed transactions and accidental fund mixing across the two chains.

Recommended precautions

Users are advised to verify official project channels for software releases and to wait for verified wallet or tool distributions before moving funds. Custodial users should consult their exchange’s announcements to confirm support for the fork.