Introduction to Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) emerged from a hard fork of the original Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain on August 1, 2017. Often referred to as "Bitcoin's fork coin," BCH shares BTC's foundational technology but introduces key scalability improvements. Initially branded as BCC (Bitcoin Cash), it was created to address Bitcoin's long-standing congestion issues through on-chain scaling.
Key Facts About BCH
- Launch Date: July 24, 2017
- Total Supply: 21,000,000 BCH (mirroring BTC's scarcity)
- Current Circulating Supply: 19,888,600 BCH
- Block Size: Upgraded from 8MB to 32MB (vs. BTC's 1MB)
- Price (as of latest data): $481.60
- 24-Hour Trading Volume: $224.26 million
👉 Track real-time BCH price and market data
The Evolution of Bitcoin Cash: Why It Forked
The Scalability Debate
Bitcoin's 1MB block size limit (implemented by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2010) became a bottleneck as adoption grew. Transactions slowed, fees spiked, and the community split into two camps:
- SegWit+Lightning Network proponents (led by Bitcoin Core)
- Big-block advocates (pushing for direct on-chain scaling)
The Hard Fork
In July 2017, ViaBTC announced support for User-Activated Hard Fork (UAHF), creating Bitcoin Cash. Key changes included:
- Removing SegWit
- Increasing block size to 8MB (later 32MB)
- 1:1 distribution for BTC holders
Bitcoin Cash vs. Bitcoin: Key Differences
| Feature | Bitcoin (BTC) | Bitcoin Cash (BCH) |
|---|---|---|
| Block Size | 1MB (SegWit-enabled) | 32MB |
| Transaction Speed | Slower (high congestion) | Faster (lower fees) |
| Philosophy | Store of value | Electronic cash system |
| Governance | Core developers | Miner-driven updates |
BCH Market Performance and Adoption
- Current Market Cap: $9.57 billion (Ranked #9 on major trackers)
- Use Cases: Retail payments, remittances, and microtransactions due to low fees
- Notable Supporters: Roger Ver, Bitmain, and several cryptocurrency exchanges
👉 Discover how BCH is used in global commerce
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Bitcoin Cash the same as Bitcoin?
No. While both share a transaction history before the 2017 fork, BCH operates as a separate cryptocurrency with larger blocks and no SegWit.
2. Why does BCH have lower fees than BTC?
BCH's 32MB blocks process more transactions per second, reducing network congestion and fees.
3. How can I acquire Bitcoin Cash?
You can buy BCH on major exchanges like OKX, mine it, or receive it as payment for goods/services.
4. What’s the future of BCH?
BCH aims to fulfill Bitcoin’s original vision as "peer-to-peer electronic cash" through continuous on-chain scaling.
5. Is BCH a good investment?
Like all cryptocurrencies, BCH carries volatility risks. Research its technology, team, and market trends before investing.