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BTC Bitcoin welcomes a new parallel chain, and the eCash Alpha phase has been launched.
Bitcoin has just witnessed the emergence of a new parallel chain. eCash launched its Alpha phase on August 23 at a block height of 963,648. For Bitcoin holders, this is not the real ECX yet: the units currently produced are for testing purposes only. The final hard fork is still planned to take place around October 31, at a block height of 973,728. Before then, several technical issues still need to be resolved.
Brief overview
eCash launched the Alpha chain on August 23 in Block 963,648. The real Bitcoin hard fork is still planned for around October 31.
The first eCash chain appears in Bitcoin
The launch on August 23 does not mean the final fork. eCash has previously been described as one of the two major bifurcations planned around Bitcoin in 2026. The Alpha phase begins in block 963,648, and the chain produces its own block in parallel with Bitcoin. Bitcoin itself continues to operate normally.
The coins generated during this period are called pECX, and these are practice units used to test the network before official launch and are not permanent ECX. There is also a preview in the plan, scheduled for around September 20, with a block height of approximately 967,680. It is then expected to transition to the main network around October 31, when the block height is 973,728.
At that time, Bitcoin addresses are expected to receive ECX at a 1:1 ratio. The project is led by Paul Sztorc, who is known for his work on Drivechain as well as the BIP-300 and BIP-301. His idea was not to replace Bitcoin, but to let eCash inherit Bitcoin's history and then continue to develop according to its own rules.
The test has not solved all problems
The Alpha stage at least shows that the new chain can produce blocks. However, initial startup does not mean that the network is stable. Near the activation altitude, a block that failed due to competition was observed.
This is not unusual for a test chain. There is a chance to try again in September. For Bitcoin holders, the issue of replay attacks is more relevant. The address format used by eCash is similar to BTC, and replay protection does not seem to have been fully implemented.
Therefore, if the currencies are not properly separated, transactions broadcast on one chain may cause problems for the other chain under certain conditions. The exchange is already paying close attention to the situation. A platform said that if security needs to be done, it may temporarily suspend Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals during the fork period. Other platforms have not announced whether they will distribute ECX to their customers.
Bitcoin has just experienced another fork event. The bifurcation associated with BIP-110 produced only two blocks in its first eight hours. eCash tried another approach: Alpha first, then Beta, and finally the real fork.
October 31 is still the real date to watch.
For Bitcoin holders, everything remains unchanged. Bitcoin remains on the Bitcoin chain. The pECX produced today does not represent the permanent balance promised by the main network.
October 31 should change the situation. Starting from the expected block height, eCash hopes to take over the status of Bitcoin addresses and grant ECX to holders. Users who keep their own keys will theoretically be able to access coins on both chains.
The situation is different for Bitcoin stored on an exchange. The platform will control the key and decide whether to support new assets. The project must also convince miners. A chain derived from Bitcoin can run even with little computing power, but its security is much lower than that of the main network.
The community has long recognized this problem. Since its launch, the eCash project has attracted criticism over its technical and economic choices. The Alpha launch did not resolve the controversy, but only indicated that the exercise had begun. The second drill will be held in September. On October 31, eCash will truly face its test.
