LayerTwo Labs plans a Bitcoin fork at block 964,000 in August 2026. BTC holders get eCash 1:1. Here is what you need to know.
LayerTwo Labs is launching a new Bitcoin hard fork this August.
The fork will happen at block 964,000. Every BTC holder will receive an equal amount of the new coin, called eCash.
Paul Sztorc, a key figure behind the project, announced the development on X. The fork is set to introduce major changes to the Bitcoin network through a new layer-two infrastructure.
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What the eCash Bitcoin Fork Means for BTC Holders
The airdrop follows a simple 1:1 ratio. A holder with 4.19 BTC, for example, will receive 4.19 eCash after the fork. Sztorc noted that recipients can sell, hold, or ignore the new coins entirely.
The new chain closely mirrors Bitcoin Core’s existing codebase. It retains SHA-256 mining and the 21 million coin supply cap.
The team confirmed it will continue merging changes from Bitcoin Core, including unfavorable ones. The fork client will be locked 30 days before the fork date.
A coin-splitter tool is also in development. It will help users separate their BTC from eCash after the fork. Compatible wallets will support the claim process.
Drivechains and Layer-Two Development on the eCash Network
The fork’s key technical addition is Drivechain support. This activates BIP300 and BIP301 via a soft fork method called CUSF. No lines of code change on the main chain itself.
LayerTwo Labs currently has seven sidechains in development. These include a privacy-focused chain modeled after Zcash.
Other projects in the pipeline include Truthcoin for prediction markets, CoinShift for decentralized exchange, BitAssets for NFTs, BitNames for identity, and Photon for quantum resistance.
All sidechains use merged mining.
According to Sztorc, this means miners earn additional revenue at no extra cost. The team claims the L2 infrastructure can scale to serve 8 billion users globally.
How This Fork Differs From the 2017 Bitcoin Cash Split
Sztorc drew clear comparisons between this fork and the 2017 Bitcoin Cash hard fork.
Unlike BCH, the new project drops the word “Bitcoin” from its name entirely. The team is building a distinct brand around the eCash identity.
Sztorc also highlighted the four-month advance notice as a deliberate choice.
The 2017 BCH fork gave users far less time to prepare. He also pointed to early transaction replay as a protective measure for users during the transition period.
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Funding for the project draws from early Satoshi-linked coins, which have been reassigned to project investors. This aspect of the funding model has sparked debate in the crypto community.
The name “eCash” has also raised questions, given that an existing cryptocurrency already carries that name.
Source: https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/layertwo-labs-announces-bitcoin-fork-ecash-airdrop-planned-for-btc-holders/
