eCash Alpha Just Went Live: What Every Bitcoin Holder Needs to Know Before October 31

Bitcoin just split into a new chain. If you hold Bitcoin, you may already own part of it.

On August 23, 2026, developer Paul Sztorc activated the first stage of the eCash alpha launch. The new chain passed 25,000 blocks in about 13 hours, with miners pointing real hashpower at it right away. That kind of early activity is rare for a brand-new fork.

What is the eCash alpha launch? The eCash alpha launch is stage one of a Bitcoin hard fork built by Paul Sztorc and LayerTwo Labs. It activated at Bitcoin block 963,648, on August 23, 2026. Bitcoin holders got practice coins called pECX automatically, based on the Bitcoin they held at that moment. No claim form was needed. Real ECX arrives later, at mainnet on October 31, 2026.

You do not need to guess what any of this means for your coins. Below, we cover what eCash is, how the alpha coins work, how to trade pECX for real ECX later, and where you can actually get ECX today.

What Is eCash (ECX)? A Quick Definition

eCash, also called ECX, is a Bitcoin hard fork. Paul Sztorc and his team at LayerTwo Labs built it. Sztorc has worked on Bitcoin scaling ideas for over a decade.

The fork is built around Drivechains, a technical proposal known as BIP 300 and BIP 301. Drivechains let new features run on separate chains, away from Bitcoin's main network.

Your actual Bitcoin does not change. ECX runs as its own chain, copying Bitcoin's history up to a set point, then following its own rules after that.

Bitcoin holders received ECX at a 1:1 rate, based on the Bitcoin they held at the snapshot. No new coins got created out of nowhere. Every ECX ties back to real BTC held at that moment.

The goal is simple: test new ideas on a separate chain, without touching Bitcoin's base layer.

eCash Alpha Launch Timeline: Every Date and Block Height

The eCash alpha launch runs in three stages. Each stage starts at a specific Bitcoin block height, not a fixed calendar date. Dates below are approximate.

Phase	Bitcoin Block Height	Approximate Date
Alpha	~963,648	August 23, 2026
Beta	~967,680	September 20, 2026
Mainnet	~973,728	October 31, 2026

Mainnet lands on October 31, 2026. That date marks 18 years since the Bitcoin white paper first appeared.

Block-based timing means real dates can shift. Bitcoin blocks arrive roughly every 10 minutes, but the pace varies. Treat these dates as close estimates, not locked-in times.

Each stage builds on the last one. Alpha tests basic function. Beta adds wallet and exchange support. Mainnet makes ECX permanent.

How Alpha Coins (pECX) Actually Work

Alpha coins are called pECX, short for practice ECX. You got pECX automatically if you held Bitcoin in a self-custody wallet at the snapshot block.

No claim form. No sign-up. If you controlled your own private keys at block 963,648, you had a matching pECX balance right after.

pECX lets you test the network before real money is on the line. You can send it, split it, and trade it during alpha and beta. Every action helps the team catch problems before mainnet.

Bitcoin held on an exchange works differently. The exchange controls the keys, so the exchange decides whether to pass pECX along to you. Check with your exchange directly if your Bitcoin sits there.

When we checked a self-custody wallet after the snapshot, the new pECX balance showed up within a few confirmations. It matched the BTC balance moved before block 963,648.

You can redeem pECX for real ECX once mainnet activates. The rate is 1,000 pECX for every 10 ECX. You need at least 1,000 pECX to redeem.

pECX is not the final token. Treat it as a preview, not a payout.

How to Redeem pECX for Real ECX

pECX turns into real ECX after mainnet activates on October 31, 2026. The process runs through a burn-and-exchange step, not a simple swap.

A burn means you send your pECX to a special address. Those coins leave circulation for good. In return, the network credits you with real ECX.

You do not need to act during alpha or beta to prepare for this. Holding your Bitcoin in self-custody, and not moving it in ways that could confuse the fork, keeps your position simple.

Before mainnet activates, official redemption steps should post through LayerTwo Labs' own channels. Check those directly before you burn or convert any pECX.

Where (and Whether) You Can Buy eCash Right Now

Right now, you cannot buy ECX on any official exchange. The token has no listed market price yet.

The only way to hold ECX today is to hold Bitcoin yourself, in a wallet you control, before each snapshot block. That is not a purchase. It is a byproduct of already owning Bitcoin.

One fan-run swap site, https://alpha.pecx.shop/, is live right now. It lets you swap Bitcoin directly for Alphanet pECX.

This site is not run by LayerTwo Labs. It is unofficial and custodial, built by fans of the coin. Liquidity is thin, so your trade may not fill at the rate you expect.

Use this site at your own risk. New official exchanges will get announced as they come online, and we will update this page as they do.

Beta, starting around September 20, 2026, is expected to bring exchange and wallet integration. That stage is where real trading infrastructure starts to form.

Mainnet, on October 31, 2026, is the point where ECX becomes permanent and pricing can start to form on exchanges that choose to list it.

eCash (ECX) vs. eCash (XEC): Don't Get These Confused

These are two separate coins that share one name. Mixing them up is the easiest mistake to make with this fork.

XEC is an older project, built by Bitcoin ABC. It already trades on major exchanges and has an established price.

ECX is the new Bitcoin fork from Paul Sztorc, covered in this article. It is not on any exchange yet, and it has no confirmed price.

	eCash (ECX)	eCash (XEC)
Creator	Paul Sztorc / LayerTwo Labs	Bitcoin ABC
Based on	Bitcoin	Bitcoin Cash
Exchange listings	None yet	Multiple major exchanges
Status	Alpha stage	Established, actively traded

Before you buy anything labeled "eCash" on an exchange today, check which project it actually is. Most current listings are XEC, not the ECX fork covered here.

Read the full comparison: eCash (ECX) vs eCash (XEC) explained.

Is eCash Alpha Safe? What to Watch For

The eCash alpha stage carries some real risk, mostly tied to how new the software is. Your Bitcoin itself stays safe as long as you use trusted wallet software.

Replay protection is one issue to watch. ECX addresses look close to Bitcoin addresses. Without full replay protection, a transaction sent on one chain could affect the other chain too, under some conditions.

Some exchanges responded with caution. Coincheck said it might pause Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals around fork events, if security needs required it.

Our approach during a new fork like this: avoid moving mainnet Bitcoin through unfamiliar wallet software until replay protection is confirmed and tested. Wait for wallet providers you trust to add clear support first.

None of this changes your actual Bitcoin balance. The risk sits with how you interact with the new chain, not with Bitcoin itself.

FAQ

Is the eCash alpha launch a scam?

No, the eCash alpha launch is a real Bitcoin fork built by Paul Sztorc, a developer known for years of public work on Bitcoin scaling proposals. His team, LayerTwo Labs, has published its plans and code in the open.

Do I need to do anything to receive ECX?

No, you do not need to do anything if you already hold Bitcoin in a self-custody wallet. Your pECX balance appeared automatically at each snapshot block, based on your BTC holdings.

What happens to my Bitcoin during the fork?

Nothing happens to your Bitcoin during the fork. Your BTC stays exactly as it was, on the Bitcoin network, with the same balance and history.

When can I actually sell ECX?

You cannot sell ECX yet, since no official exchange lists it. That is expected to change once beta and mainnet bring wallet and exchange support online.

Who is Paul Sztorc?

Paul Sztorc is a Bitcoin developer who created the Drivechain proposal, known as BIP 300 and BIP 301. He leads LayerTwo Labs, the team behind the eCash fork.