Bitcoin learning guide
Bitcoin forks, without the confusion.
A fork can mean a new chain, a copy of software, or a change to Bitcoin's own rules. These are different events. This guide names documented examples and shows where each fits.
By Bitcoin Compass · Published and reviewed October 2, 2026 · This is a selected, sourced guide, not a complete registry of every announced project.
What is a Bitcoin fork?
A Bitcoin fork is a divergence in software or consensus rules. A hard fork can produce a lasting separate chain if people continue validating both rule sets. A soft fork tightens rules while remaining compatible with older rules, and does not inherently create a new coin. Copying Bitcoin's code can launch a new project without sharing Bitcoin's transaction history.
That distinction matters more than a familiar name. A new chain does not automatically inherit Bitcoin's users, security, value, or Bitcoin Core endorsement. Bitcoin's developer guide explains consensus-rule changes.
Documented direct splits from BTC
These projects published a split from Bitcoin's blockchain. Dates below refer to the fork point or project launch described by the cited source; a snapshot date and public network launch may differ.
On a narrow screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Project | When | What changed or was proposed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | August 2017 | A lasting chain split associated with different block-size rules. BCH and BTC share transaction history before the split. | Bitcoin Cash Node |
| Bitcoin Gold (BTG) | October 2017 | Copied Bitcoin's history at block 491,406 and pursued different mining rules. | Bitcoin Gold |
| Bitcoin Diamond (BCD) | November 2017 | The project's code repository describes a new chain branching at Bitcoin block 495,866. | Project repository |
| Bitcoin Atom (BCA) | January 2018 | The project records a fork at block 505,888 and describes hybrid consensus and atomic-swap goals. | Project repository |
Other Bitcoin-derived projects and announcements
A project's own record can document its plans or code without proving that a network remains active today. These names appear in historical fork discussions, but they need separate status checks.
Bitcoin Private (BTCP)
Its repository describes a Zclassic fork that merged a snapshot of Bitcoin's unspent outputs. That is a hybrid design, not a straightforward BTC chain split. The legacy repository also reports its chain offline in 2020.
Super Bitcoin (SBTC)
Project announcements placed a planned Bitcoin split near block 498,888 in December 2017. The announcement alone does not establish current operation or delivery of proposed features.
UnitedBitcoin (UBTC)
The UnitedBitcoin repository forks Bitcoin's code and describes a separate UBTC asset with changes to block size and planned features. Check chain records before treating its historical claims as current.
Bitcoin Interest (BCI)
Its repository proposed a split at Bitcoin block 505,083 and a different mining algorithm. The source uses future tense, so this guide does not treat the planned event as verified current network status.
Forks of a Bitcoin descendant
These chains trace their ancestry through Bitcoin Cash. Calling them direct forks of BTC would obscure the intermediate split.
Bitcoin SV (BSV)
BSV arose from the November 2018 Bitcoin Cash split. Its protocol repository records that upgrade and subsequent separate development.
Read the protocol history ↗eCash (XEC)
Bitcoin ABC says the chain separated from Bitcoin Cash on November 15, 2020. The resulting BCHA project later adopted the eCash name and XEC unit.
Read Bitcoin ABC's account ↗Forks that did not create a direct BTC split
Bitcoin soft forks
Segregated Witness (SegWit) and Taproot changed Bitcoin's consensus rules through soft forks. They are Bitcoin upgrades, not separate coins called “SegWit” or “Taproot.”
Software forks
Bitcoin XT began as patches to Bitcoin Core and became independently maintained software. Litecoin's source repository is a fork of Bitcoin's code. A software fork alone does not prove a split from the live BTC chain.
Proposed but cancelled splits
The 2017 SegWit2x block-size proposal is often listed beside Bitcoin forks. The planned November hard fork was called off, so it should not be counted as a lasting 2017 BTC chain split.
Where does BTC1 fit?
Bitcoin Genesis 1 (BTC1) is described by its ecosystem as a separate cryptocurrency project. The sources reviewed for this guide do not establish a specific shared-history fork point with the BTC blockchain. For that reason, BTC1 is not listed as a verified direct Bitcoin chain split above.
Read the BTC1 explainer for the project's published description and questions to verify.
Common questions about Bitcoin forks
Which coin was the first major split from Bitcoin?
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is the first widely recognized lasting chain split from Bitcoin, in August 2017. Earlier software forks and temporary blockchain reorganizations are different events.
Do I receive new coins whenever Bitcoin forks?
No. Eligibility depends on the fork's design, the keys you controlled at the relevant snapshot, and the rules of any custodian you used. Never enter a Bitcoin recovery phrase into an unfamiliar claiming tool.
Is a hard fork the same as a new cryptocurrency?
No. A hard fork is an incompatible rule change. It creates a lasting separate cryptocurrency only if both rule sets continue as distinct networks.
Is BTC1 a Bitcoin hard fork?
The material reviewed here does not verify a shared-history BTC split for Bitcoin Genesis 1. Treat it as a separate project unless a documented fork point and independently checkable chain data establish otherwise.
Are all Bitcoin-named projects endorsed by Bitcoin Core?
No. A familiar name, copied code, or shared pre-fork history does not imply endorsement or equivalent security.
How this guide was compiled
This selection prioritizes original project repositories, protocol specifications, and Bitcoin's own technical documentation. Many other fork names were announced, especially in 2017–18; an announcement alone is not proof of a lasting chain. Status, supply, market availability, and security can change, so follow the linked sources before acting.
Reviewed October 2, 2026. Educational information, not investment advice. Bitcoin Compass is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bitcoin.org or Bitcoin Core.