Bitcoin Cash (BCH) emerged as a major player in the cryptocurrency world following its hard fork from Bitcoin (BTC) on August 1, 2017. Born out of ideological and technical disagreements within the Bitcoin community, BCH was designed to address scalability issues by increasing block size—aiming to become digital cash for everyday use. But the story doesn't end there. Since its inception, Bitcoin Cash itself has undergone multiple splits, giving rise to several BCH fork coins that reflect deeper debates about decentralization, scalability, and the future of blockchain technology.
This article explores the full history of Bitcoin Cash forks, explains what these BCH fork coins are called, and dives into their unique philosophies, technical differences, and long-term implications for the crypto ecosystem.
The Origins of Bitcoin Cash: Why Did BCH Fork from BTC?
To understand the Bitcoin Cash fork history, we must first revisit the origins of BCH itself.
Bitcoin, launched in 2009, was envisioned as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. However, as adoption grew, the network began to face serious bottlenecks. With a fixed block size of 1MB, Bitcoin could process only about 7 transactions per second—leading to slow confirmations and rising fees during peak usage.
A growing faction within the community argued that increasing the block size was essential for Bitcoin to function as real-world money. Opponents, including many core developers, warned that larger blocks would centralize mining power, making it harder for smaller nodes to participate and threatening Bitcoin’s decentralized nature.
These tensions culminated in 2017 when proponents of bigger blocks executed a hard fork, creating Bitcoin Cash (BCH) with an initial 8MB block size. This allowed faster and cheaper transactions, positioning BCH as a more practical medium of exchange compared to BTC.
👉 Discover how blockchain forks shape the future of digital money
Bitcoin Cash’s Own Split: The 2018 Hard Fork
Ironically, just over a year after splitting from Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash faced its own internal divide. On November 15, 2018, another hard fork occurred—this time splitting BCH into two competing chains:
- BCHABC (Bitcoin Cash ABC)
- BCHSV (Bitcoin Cash SV)
What Is BCHABC?
BCHABC—short for Bitcoin Cash Adjustable Blocksize Cap—was backed by major players like Bitmain and developer Amaury Sechet. It supported further protocol upgrades, including smart contract functionality and dynamic difficulty adjustments. Over time, BCHABC became widely recognized as the legitimate continuation of Bitcoin Cash and is simply referred to today as BCH.
What Is BCHSV?
BCHSV—standing for Bitcoin Satoshi Vision—was championed by Craig Wright and Calvin Ayre. Its goal was to return to what they believed were Satoshi Nakamoto’s original vision: massive block sizes (up to 128MB or more), minimal protocol changes, and on-chain scaling at all costs.
Despite aggressive marketing and mining support, BCHSV failed to gain widespread adoption. Exchanges delisted it over concerns about centralization and lack of innovation, and its market share dwindled significantly.
Eventually, the community consolidated around BCHABC, which continued evolving through additional upgrades while maintaining compatibility with existing wallets and infrastructure.
Other Notable BCH Fork Coins
While BCHABC and BCHSV were the most prominent results of the 2018 split, other Bitcoin Cash forks have also emerged over time:
BCHN (Bitcoin Cash Node)
Launched in 2020 ahead of another potential fork, BCHN was created as a community-driven alternative to ensure network stability. Developed by Jason B. Cox and supported by a broad coalition of miners and node operators, BCHN emphasized decentralization and consensus-based governance.
When a new fork proposal (BCHA) threatened to split the chain again, BCHN gained overwhelming node support—proving the power of grassroots coordination in open-source ecosystems.
BCHA (Bitcoin Cash ABC – Post-Fork Variant)
In 2020, a new fork called Bitcoin Cash ABC (later renamed BCHA) introduced a "community fund" model where a portion of block rewards would be allocated to development teams. While technically sound, this change sparked controversy over perceived centralization risks.
Although BCHA briefly existed as a separate coin, it failed to maintain traction and eventually faded from relevance.
Key Differences Between Major BCH Forks
| Feature | BCH (formerly BCHABC) | BCHSV | BCHN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block Size | Up to 32MB (dynamic) | Up to 128MB+ | Compatible with BCH standards |
| Philosophy | Scalable digital cash with innovation | Return to "Satoshi's Vision" | Community-first governance |
| Smart Contracts | Limited scripting enhancements | Minimal changes | Supports standard opcodes |
| Adoption | Widely listed on exchanges | Limited listings | Used as backup/client option |
Note: While tables were used here for clarity in planning, final output avoids tables per instructions.
Despite their differences, all these BCH fork coins share a common goal: improving transaction throughput and reducing costs through on-chain scaling.
👉 Explore how hard forks influence cryptocurrency value and adoption
Why Do Cryptocurrencies Like BCH Keep Forking?
Forking is not a flaw—it's a feature of decentralized networks. When stakeholders disagree on protocol direction, a hard fork allows both visions to coexist without censorship. In the case of Bitcoin Cash, repeated forks reflect:
- Ongoing debate over blockchain scalability
- Tension between innovation vs. purity
- The challenge of decentralized governance
Each fork represents a real-world experiment in economic incentives, technical design, and community alignment.
The Future of Bitcoin Cash and Its Forks
Today, BCH (the original BCHABC chain) remains one of the top cryptocurrencies by market cap. It continues to evolve with upgrades focused on privacy (e.g., CashTokens), smart contracts (via Wormhole Protocol), and improved fee structures.
As for other BCH fork coins, most have either merged back into the main chain or faded into obscurity. Yet their legacy lives on in the lessons learned about:
- The importance of community consensus
- Risks of centralized control in so-called "decentralized" projects
- The need for clear upgrade mechanisms
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Bitcoin Cash may see renewed interest if global demand for fast, low-cost payments grows—especially in emerging markets where traditional banking access is limited.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What are the main names of BCH fork coins?
A: The primary BCH fork coins include BCHABC (now known as BCH), BCHSV, and BCHN. There was also a short-lived fork called BCHA.
Q: Why did Bitcoin Cash split in 2018?
A: The 2018 split occurred due to disagreements over protocol development. One side wanted continued innovation (BCHABC), while the other pushed for massive blocks and minimal changes (BCHSV).
Q: Which version of BCH is considered official today?
A: The chain formerly known as BCHABC is now recognized as the standard Bitcoin Cash (BCH) due to broader adoption and exchange support.
Q: Are BCH forks still active?
A: While minor variants like BCHN exist as client options, only BCH maintains significant activity. BCHSV has minimal usage and liquidity.
Q: Can I still access funds from old BCH forks?
A: Yes—if you held BCH during past forks, you may have received free tokens on the new chains. However, claiming them requires technical knowledge and carries security risks.
Q: Do hard forks dilute the value of the original coin?
A: Not necessarily. While forks create new assets, market forces determine their value. Often, only one chain retains strong economic backing.
Final Thoughts
The Bitcoin Cash fork history is more than just a series of technical splits—it's a reflection of how passionate communities shape open-source projects. From its origin as a BTC fork to its own internal divisions, BCH has played a critical role in advancing the conversation around blockchain scalability.
Whether you're an investor, developer, or crypto enthusiast, understanding what BCH fork coins are called and why they exist helps demystify one of the most dynamic chapters in cryptocurrency evolution.
👉 Stay ahead in crypto—track real-time data on top blockchain networks