eCash ECX fork: Bitcoin Holders Get ECX at Block 973,728
The eCash ECX fork activates at Bitcoin block 973,728, expected around October 29, and every address holding BTC at that block is set to receive one ECX per BTC.
- The fork is tied to block height 973,728, not a calendar date; at our check, about 700 blocks were left.
- BTC balances are untouched, and ECX credit is automatic for self-custodied coins, but replay protection is opt-in.
- Exchanges are split: CoinW plans to credit ECX, while bitFlyer and Coincheck have said they have no such plans, per TokenPost.
in this block
The eCash ECX fork is the Bitcoin airdrop nobody has to sign up for, and it is now only days away. The planned hard fork activates at Bitcoin block 973,728, the next difficulty adjustment, and every address holding BTC at that block is set to receive one ECX per BTC. Mempool.space estimated that block for late October 29 UTC when we checked at about 06:00 UTC on October 25.
What actually happened
eCash is a new chain that starts from Bitcoin's ledger and adds Drivechains through BIP-300 and BIP-301, a sidechain design that has been debated in Bitcoin circles for years without ever being merged. The project's site says it is a hard fork "designed to activate Drivechains," led by LayerTwo Labs, the team associated with Drivechain author Paul Sztorc.
The rollout has run in stages. According to the official eCash site, an alpha snapshot was taken around block 963,648 on August 23 and a beta snapshot around block 967,680 on September 19. Both credited practice ECX. The mainnet snapshot at block 973,728 is the one that counts and credits permanent ECX.
The timing keeps sliding with block speed. TokenPost reported on October 22 that the target was estimated around October 31. Our mempool.space check showed block 973,026 with 702 blocks to go and an estimated retarget late on October 29 UTC. The eCash site's own counter has shown dates in the same window. Faster blocks pull it earlier, slower blocks push it later.
How the eCash ECX fork works for holders
If you hold BTC in your own wallet at the snapshot block, you should end up with the same number of ECX at the same address on the new chain. No claim form, no registration and no fee. You need control of the private keys and wallet software that supports eCash to move the coins.
Replay is the big trap. The eCash site says replay protection is opt-in, not automatic. If you move BTC after the snapshot without splitting your coins first, the same transaction may also be valid on the eCash chain and send your ECX to whoever received the BTC. The official wallet can add protection and warns you, but only if you use it.
Split first, move later. That is the whole safety lesson of every Bitcoin fork since 2017, and it applies here too.
Do not mix up the tickers. TokenPost points out that ECX is separate from the older eCash project that trades as XEC. Same name, different coin.
What exchanges are doing
Custodial BTC depends on the platform. TokenPost reported that CoinW plans to credit eligible customer balances at 1:1 but has not committed to ECX trading, deposits or withdrawals. bitFlyer said it does not plan to list or credit ECX or pay a cash equivalent. Coincheck said on October 9 that it had no plan to handle ECX.
That leaves a lot unknown. A matching balance does not mean ECX will trade at any particular price, or trade at all on major venues. Forks like this live or die on exchange support, miner interest and whether users actually want the new features.
For Bitcoin protocol context, our Bitcoin Core AI bugs piece shows how carefully core developers treat changes, which is exactly why the Drivechain camp chose a fork. And our Glamsterdam Hoodi delay story is a reminder that even planned upgrades can slip.
What to do as a reader
Decide where your BTC sits before the snapshot. If you want direct access to ECX, self-custody with keys you control is the cleanest route. If your coins are on an exchange, read that exchange's notice, because its policy decides everything.
Never send BTC or a seed phrase to "claim" ECX. The project says no claim is required. Anyone asking for your recovery phrase is a scammer, full stop. Get software only from the official eCash site, and read its coin-splitting guide before you touch anything after the fork.
Keep expectations low. The eCash ECX fork is a real event with real code, but free coins with uncertain liquidity are not income. Track the live block countdown on mempool.space, and remember that nothing here is investment advice.
Sources: eCash official "what to expect" page, TokenPost on the snapshot and exchange policies and the mempool.space difficulty adjustment API.
Not financial advice. DYOR, ser.
