Bitcoin holders are approaching the first major milestone in the rollout of ECX, a new Bitcoin fork distribution that will begin with an Alpha testnet snapshot before progressing through Beta and ultimately to Mainnet.
The first snapshot is expected around Bitcoin block 963,648, currently estimated for August 22, 2026.
At each relevant stage, Bitcoin blockchain balances provide the basis for corresponding ECX balances at a 1 BTC = 1 ECX ratio. The rollout is designed to begin with practice ECX on test networks before permanent ECX becomes available with Mainnet.
For BTC holders, the key point is straightforward: there is no registration or pre-claim required for the snapshot itself, and the process does not change or remove Bitcoin held in an eligible address.
ECX Begins With Alpha Testnet
Rather than moving directly to Mainnet, ECX is expected to roll out in several stages.
The first milestone is ECX Alpha, a testnet environment associated with Bitcoin block approximately 963,648.
Alpha ECX is intended for testing and practice rather than representing the final permanent Mainnet coins.
The rollout is expected to continue with:
- Alpha (testnet) — around Bitcoin block 963,648
- Beta (testnet) — around Bitcoin block 967,680
- Mainnet (permanent ECX) — around Bitcoin block 973,728
This staged approach gives users an opportunity to interact with the ECX network in test environments before the permanent Mainnet stage.
How the Bitcoin Snapshot Works
A blockchain snapshot records balances at a particular block height.
For ECX, the BTC balance associated with an address at the relevant snapshot block determines its corresponding ECX balance according to the 1:1 distribution ratio.
For example, an address holding 0.5 BTC at the relevant snapshot would correspond to 0.5 ECX under the distribution model.
The block height matters more than the estimated calendar date. Bitcoin blocks are not produced at perfectly fixed intervals, so the estimated date can move depending on network conditions.
Bitcoin holders who want a more detailed explanation can review the ECX Bitcoin snapshot information, including how block height and BTC balances are used in the allocation process.
What Happens to Your Bitcoin?
The ECX rollout does not require Bitcoin holders to exchange or convert their BTC.
Bitcoin remains on the Bitcoin network.
ECX exists alongside it on the forked network.
This distinction is particularly important because a legitimate blockchain fork does not require users to send away their Bitcoin simply to be represented in the fork’s distribution.
In simple terms:
Your BTC remains BTC. ECX is created on the separate ECX network.
Moving Bitcoin after a completed snapshot also does not alter the historical blockchain state recorded at that snapshot block.
Self-Custody Matters
One of the most important considerations for Bitcoin holders is whether they control the private keys associated with their BTC at the relevant snapshot.
When Bitcoin is held in a self-custody wallet, the user controls the keys associated with the Bitcoin addresses.
When BTC is held on a centralized exchange or another custodial platform, the platform generally controls the relevant private keys.
As a result, users holding BTC through a third-party custodian may depend on that provider’s policies and technical support for forked assets.
Support for ECX should not automatically be assumed simply because an exchange or custodian supports Bitcoin.
No Registration or Pre-Claim Is Required
Bitcoin holders do not need to register their Bitcoin addresses in advance simply to be included in the blockchain snapshot.
There is also no requirement to submit a private key or recovery phrase before the snapshot.
The snapshot is derived from Bitcoin blockchain data at the specified block height.
This is an important distinction because users should be cautious about websites or messages creating artificial urgency around “registering” BTC before a snapshot.
Checking an ECX Allocation
After relevant snapshot data becomes available, a public Bitcoin address can be used to determine the corresponding ECX allocation.
An eligibility check is fundamentally different from claiming or accessing coins.
A public Bitcoin address can be used to inspect blockchain information without granting control over the Bitcoin stored at that address.
A private key or recovery phrase, by contrast, can provide control over wallet assets and should be treated as sensitive information.
Bitcoin holders should therefore distinguish between simply checking an address and performing wallet operations required to access forked coins.
Alpha and Beta Are Practice Environments
Another important point for users is that ECX received during the Alpha and Beta stages should not be confused with permanent Mainnet ECX.
Both stages are test environments.
They allow users and developers to interact with the ECX network, test wallet functionality and become familiar with the ecosystem before Mainnet.
The permanent ECX stage is associated with the later Mainnet milestone around Bitcoin block 973,728.
This distinction may be particularly important as ECX-related services begin displaying balances. A balance shown on Alpha or Beta does not mean that the network has already reached its permanent Mainnet state.
Security Remains Important
Bitcoin forks often attract phishing attempts, fake claiming websites and misleading messages.
BTC holders should be especially cautious with:
- Private keys
- Wallet recovery phrases
- Unverified wallet downloads
- Unsolicited claim links
- Requests to send BTC in order to receive forked coins
- Websites creating artificial snapshot deadlines
A public Bitcoin address can safely be used for blockchain lookups. Private keys and recovery phrases require a much higher level of protection because they can provide control over wallet funds.
Users should independently verify websites and software before performing any operation involving sensitive wallet credentials.
What Comes Next?
The upcoming Alpha snapshot represents the beginning of the ECX network rollout rather than its final stage.
If the projected block schedule remains on track, the progression will move from Alpha at approximately block 963,648 to Beta at approximately block 967,680 and ultimately to Mainnet around block 973,728.
For Bitcoin holders, the most important points ahead of the first milestone are:
- Alpha begins around Bitcoin block 963,648.
- The current estimated date is August 22, 2026.
- ECX uses a 1 BTC = 1 ECX distribution ratio.
- Alpha and Beta ECX operate in testnet environments.
- Permanent ECX arrives with Mainnet.
- No registration or pre-claim is required for the snapshot.
- Bitcoin remains on the Bitcoin network.
- Self-custody is important because custodial platforms may not support ECX.
- Private keys and recovery phrases should not be required simply to check a public address.
As the target block approaches, the Bitcoin block height — rather than a fixed clock time — will determine when the first ECX snapshot milestone has been reached.
