Bitcoin Cash (BCH) continues to evolve as a dynamic and forward-thinking digital currency, consistently delivering advancements that strengthen its position in the blockchain ecosystem. From community-driven recognition to technical upgrades, BCH has demonstrated resilience and innovation since its 2017 hard fork. This article explores key developments that have shaped the Bitcoin Cash narrative, including growing institutional acknowledgment and critical protocol improvements.
Blockexplorer Recognizes Bitcoin Cash as "True Bitcoin"
In a landmark moment for the Bitcoin Cash community, Blockexplorer—an influential blockchain data platform—announced a significant rebranding decision in January 2018. The site declared it would no longer refer to the original Bitcoin chain as simply “Bitcoin.” Instead, it introduced the term "Bitcoin Legacy" to describe the chain associated with Blockstream, signaling a shift in how different branches of the Bitcoin network are perceived.
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The official statement emphasized that after observing both chains post-fork, the team concluded that Bitcoin Legacy had entered a developmental dead end. With transaction fees exceeding $20 and confirmation times stretching into days, the platform determined it was unsuitable for use as a functional financial infrastructure. In contrast, Bitcoin Cash—with its focus on low fees, fast transactions, and scalable on-chain capacity—was recognized as the legitimate continuation of Satoshi Nakamoto’s original vision.
Blockexplorer stated:
"We decided to support the only branch of Bitcoin: Bitcoin Cash. We’ve already begun deploying a dedicated Bitcoin Cash block explorer and will continue launching services around it."
This move wasn’t merely symbolic. It reflected a growing sentiment among developers and infrastructure providers that usability, accessibility, and peer-to-peer electronic cash functionality matter more than brand preservation.
Technical Advancements: Bitcoin Unlimited Releases BCH 1.2.0.0
While ideological debates continue across the crypto space, Bitcoin Cash developers remain focused on tangible improvements. One major milestone came in early 2018 when Bitcoin Unlimited, one of BCH’s core development teams, released version 1.2.0.0 of its software client.
This update marked a significant step forward in usability and standardization, most notably through the introduction of CashAddr, a new address format designed specifically for Bitcoin Cash.
Why CashAddr Matters
Prior to this release, users faced confusion due to multiple address formats—some inherited from Bitcoin Core, others adopted by wallets like BitPay. This inconsistency created risks for misdirected transactions and hindered interoperability.
CashAddr solves these issues by:
- Providing a unique, standardized prefix (
bitcoincash:) to distinguish BCH addresses - Reducing human error with improved checksums
- Enabling seamless integration across wallets, exchanges, and services
- Supporting backward compatibility during transition periods
The rollout was carefully managed: old-style addresses remained valid until January 14, 2018, allowing time for ecosystem adaptation. After that date, CashAddr became the default format, though users could still opt-in or out via configuration settings (usecashaddr flag).
"The new address format is universally applicable—anywhere, anytime." – Bitcoin Unlimited Team
Additionally, the update included full support for BitPay’s address format via the getaddressforms RPC command, ensuring compatibility with major payment processors without sacrificing standardization.
Core Protocol Enhancements in Version 1.2.0.0
Beyond address formatting, the Bitcoin Unlimited release introduced several under-the-hood improvements that enhanced network stability, developer experience, and node performance.
Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment (DAA)
One critical change involved replacing the previous difficulty adjustment algorithm with a height-activated DAA, removing reliance on Median Time Past (MTP). This ensures more responsive mining difficulty adjustments, reducing chain instability during hash rate fluctuations.
The parameter newdaaactivationtime was removed entirely, simplifying deployment and avoiding potential timing conflicts.
Mandatory Cash Network Rules
To maintain consensus integrity, the update enforced mandatory cash network rules. Nodes using outdated peer protocols were rejected, ensuring all participants adhered to current standards. This strengthened network security and prevented fragmentation.
Improved RPC Interface for Developers
Recognizing the needs of script writers and wallet builders, the team enhanced the RPC interface with several key features:
- Satoshis Field: All RPC responses now include an integer
satoshisfield instead of decimal-based values. This eliminates floating-point precision errors and simplifies scripting logic. - Batch Import Commands: Two new RPC calls allow batch importing of addresses and private keys without triggering immediate rescan delays.
- Asynchronous Rescanning: Import operations return immediately while scanning runs in the background, preventing timeouts in automated systems.
- Enhanced
getstatVerbosity: Thegetstatcommand now includes accurate timestamps using monotonic clocks (clock_monotonic), ensuring reliable statistical reporting regardless of system time changes.
These updates collectively lowered barriers for developers building wallets, payment gateways, and decentralized applications on top of Bitcoin Cash.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is Bitcoin Cash still relevant in 2025?
A: Yes. Despite market cycles, Bitcoin Cash maintains active development, merchant adoption, and a strong philosophical foundation centered on peer-to-peer electronic cash. Its low fees and fast confirmations make it practical for everyday transactions.
Q: What is the difference between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash?
A: The primary distinction lies in scalability philosophy. Bitcoin Cash supports larger block sizes (up to 32MB) to enable faster, cheaper transactions on-chain, whereas Bitcoin relies more on off-chain solutions like the Lightning Network.
Q: Why did Blockexplorer call Bitcoin "Legacy"?
A: The term reflects their assessment that the original Bitcoin chain prioritizes store-of-value use over payment functionality due to high fees and slow confirmations. It's a technical designation, not an endorsement of one chain over another in all contexts.
Q: Can I still use old Bitcoin Cash addresses?
A: While older formats are technically supported during transitions, users are strongly encouraged to adopt the CashAddr format for better security and compatibility with modern wallets and services.
Q: How does CashAddr prevent transaction errors?
A: CashAddr includes robust error-detection mechanisms (checksums) that make it nearly impossible to send funds to a mistyped address. It also clearly identifies itself as belonging to Bitcoin Cash, reducing cross-chain confusion.
Q: Where can I download Bitcoin Unlimited software?
A: Official releases are available through the Bitcoin Unlimited website. Always verify cryptographic signatures when downloading node software.
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Final Thoughts
The evolution of Bitcoin Cash illustrates how a decentralized community can respond to challenges with both principle and pragmatism. From ideological affirmations by infrastructure providers like Blockexplorer to real-world usability upgrades like CashAddr, BCH continues to refine its identity as digital money meant for spending—not just storing.
As blockchain technology matures, networks that prioritize accessibility, developer experience, and user safety will gain long-term traction. Bitcoin Cash’s journey—from controversial fork to standardized protocol—is a testament to persistent innovation in the crypto space.
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