Drivechain Architect Paul Sztorc Unveils August Bitcoin Hard Fork With 1:1 BTC Coin Split

Paul Sztorc announced “eCash,” a Bitcoin hard fork scheduled for August 2026 that will issue eCash tokens at a 1:1 ratio to BTC holders. The fork will activate BIP300/301 Drivechains via a CUSF activation client, include a 30‑day code freeze before launch, and replay all transactions at the split (a coin‑splitter tool will be provided). Several merged‑mined L2 sidechains are planned, and the team claims capacity to onboard up to 8 billion users. Market implications include a near‑term stress test for miners because eCash will reset difficulty to minimum at launch (making it much easier to mine initially), potentially shifting hashpower and early block rewards and creating chaotic conditions before difficulty adjusts. Community reaction is mixed-to-negative, with substantial criticism over the name and governance concerns; the announcement could spur short‑term volatility and miner repositioning rather than clear price directional bias for BTC.