Bitcoin Cash (BCH) emerged as a result of a hard fork from the original Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain in August 2017. This split was driven by disagreements within the Bitcoin community over scalability, transaction speed, and block size limitations—particularly in response to the implementation of Segregated Witness (SegWit). Since then, Bitcoin Cash has evolved as a distinct cryptocurrency with its own development roadmap, network rules, and community support.
But many still ask: When will the Bitcoin Cash hard fork finish? The truth is, the initial hard fork that created Bitcoin Cash is already complete. What remains are periodic protocol upgrades—planned and consensus-driven—which are part of normal blockchain evolution, not ongoing forks.
Understanding the Bitcoin Cash Hard Fork
A hard fork occurs when a blockchain undergoes a significant protocol change that makes older versions incompatible with the new one. In the case of Bitcoin Cash, the 2017 fork was a direct response to concerns that Bitcoin’s 1 MB block size limited transaction throughput and increased fees.
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The split happened when nodes running Bitcoin Cash software began rejecting blocks and transactions from the original Bitcoin chain. From that moment, two separate blockchains existed:
- Bitcoin (BTC) – maintained the original rules with SegWit implemented.
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH) – increased block size to 8 MB (later expanded to 32 MB) to allow faster, cheaper transactions.
This hard fork was not an attack or error—it was a deliberate, community-backed divergence to explore an alternative vision for cryptocurrency: one prioritizing peer-to-peer electronic cash over store-of-value use cases.
Core Keywords and Their Relevance
To understand Bitcoin Cash’s trajectory, it's essential to integrate key concepts naturally into the discussion:
- Bitcoin Cash hard fork
- BCH vs BTC
- blockchain split
- cryptocurrency fork
- Bitcoin Cash price prediction
- BCH investment potential
- hard fork completion
- Bitcoin Cash future
These keywords reflect common search intents around technical history, investment decisions, and network stability—all central to understanding BCH today.
How Many Times Has Bitcoin Forked?
While Bitcoin Cash itself originated from a single major hard fork in 2017, the broader Bitcoin ecosystem has seen numerous splits. There have been over 105 Bitcoin fork projects in total, with around 74 still active. These forks range from serious attempts at innovation to speculative clones with little utility.
However, most of these forks are historical footnotes. The only ones with lasting impact are:
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Bitcoin SV (BSV), which later split from BCH in 2018
- Various privacy-focused or niche variants
The takeaway? Forks are common in open-source blockchain projects, but only a few survive long-term due to community support, development activity, and real-world adoption.
What Happens After a Hard Fork?
After a hard fork like the one that created Bitcoin Cash:
- Two separate blockchains operate independently
Each follows its own consensus rules. Transactions on one chain do not affect the other. - Users receive coins on both chains (if they held BTC pre-fork)
Anyone who owned Bitcoin before August 1, 2017, automatically had an equal amount of Bitcoin Cash—provided they controlled their private keys. - Wallets and exchanges must choose which chain to support
Some platforms adopted BCH quickly; others waited or never added support. - Permanent divergence occurs unless reorganization happens
While rare, chains can reorganize if there's consensus—but this is not typical for major forks like BCH.
👉 Learn how digital wallets manage post-fork assets securely
Is the Bitcoin Cash Hard Fork Still Ongoing?
No. The primary hard fork that created Bitcoin Cash concluded in August 2017. Since then, the network has undergone several upgrades, such as:
- Increasing block size to 32 MB
- Implementing new opcodes for smart contract functionality
- Adjusting difficulty adjustment algorithms (DAA)
These updates are not hard forks in the disruptive sense, but rather planned improvements agreed upon by developers and miners. They ensure network security, scalability, and usability without creating new coins or splitting communities.
So to answer directly: Yes, the Bitcoin Cash hard fork is finished. What continues are routine protocol enhancements—common across all mature blockchains.
Bitcoin Cash vs Bitcoin: Key Differences
| Feature | Bitcoin (BTC) | Bitcoin Cash (BCH) |
|---|---|---|
| Block Size | 1 MB (with SegWit up to ~4 MB) | Up to 32 MB |
| Transaction Cost | Higher during peak times | Typically under $0.01 |
| Throughput | ~7 transactions per second | Up to 200 TPS |
| Primary Use Case | Digital gold / store of value | Peer-to-peer electronic cash |
The fundamental difference lies in philosophy: BTC focuses on being a decentralized reserve asset, while BCH aims to be usable for everyday payments.
Can You Recover BCH Sent to a BTC Address?
Yes—but only if you control the private keys of the Bitcoin wallet where the funds were mistakenly sent.
Since BTC and BCH share the same address format pre-fork, sending BCH to a BTC address doesn’t “lose” the funds permanently. However:
- The recipient must import their wallet’s recovery phrase into a BCH-compatible wallet.
- Once imported, they can access and transfer the BCH.
Exchanges like Coinbase may assist users who accidentally receive BCH at BTC addresses—but this is not guaranteed for self-custodied wallets.
👉 Find out how to recover cross-chain crypto transfers safely
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Did the Bitcoin Cash hard fork ever finish?
Yes. The hard fork that created Bitcoin Cash was completed on August 1, 2017. Any subsequent changes are protocol upgrades, not ongoing forks.
Q: Will there be another Bitcoin Cash hard fork?
While future upgrades are possible, there are no plans for another major disruptive fork. Developers focus on stability and incremental improvements.
Q: Can I still get free coins from a Bitcoin Cash fork?
No. The last major distribution event was in 2017. Later forks like BCHABC vs BCHSV resulted in new tokens, but these required active participation and are no longer relevant.
Q: Is Bitcoin Cash a good investment in 2025?
Market predictions vary. Some analysts project BCH could reach $5,000–$12,000 by 2025 under bullish conditions, though current prices remain far below that level. Adoption and on-chain activity will determine long-term value.
Q: Why did Bitcoin Cash split from Bitcoin?
To increase block size and reduce transaction fees, making cryptocurrency more practical for daily use rather than just investment.
Q: Does Coinbase support Bitcoin Cash?
Yes. Coinbase supports buying, selling, sending, and receiving BCH across its platforms—including mobile apps and web interface.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Bitcoin Cash
While the drama of the 2017 fork has passed, Bitcoin Cash continues to evolve. It maintains a dedicated developer base and is accepted by select merchants and payment processors. However, it faces stiff competition from both Bitcoin and newer Layer-2 solutions like the Lightning Network.
For investors, Bitcoin remains the dominant choice due to wider adoption, higher market cap, and institutional interest. Yet, Bitcoin Cash still holds relevance for those who believe in its original mission: fast, low-cost digital cash.
As blockchain technology matures, events like hard forks become less about conflict and more about coordinated upgrades—ensuring networks remain secure, scalable, and user-friendly.
Whether you're evaluating BCH as an investment or simply curious about its technical history, understanding the completed nature of its hard fork is crucial. The chapter of division is closed; what follows is steady development in a competitive crypto landscape.