Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc plans to launch a hard fork network eCash, which supports a 1:1 exchange for BTC, causing controversy in the community

Bitcoin developer Paul Sztorc announced the official launch of the Bitcoin hard fork network eCash, allowing BTC holders to exchange BTC for eCash at a 1:1 ratio after the hard fork goes live.

It is reported that the Layer1 node software of this network will be an "almost replica" of the Bitcoin Core client, continuing to use the SHA-256 hashing algorithm and lowering the initial mining difficulty to attract more miners to participate. Meanwhile, eCash will also be equipped with seven Layer2 scaling networks called "drivechains" to enhance transaction throughput and support optional on-chain privacy features. Paul Sztorc stated that eCash is different from Bitcoin Cash in 2017, no longer using the "Bitcoin" name, and claims it is a long-term solution to Bitcoin's scalability and privacy issues. However, the proposal to manually reallocate a portion of Satoshi Nakamoto's approximately 1.1 million BTC to early investors has sparked strong controversy in the community, with some Bitcoin supporters criticizing the move as "theft" and a violation of Bitcoin principles.