About Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

Bitcoin Cash Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and how does it function as a digital currency?


Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is a cryptocurrency created in 2017 from a hard fork of Bitcoin. It functions as a digital currency aimed at providing a scalable and efficient payment system. It features larger block sizes compared to Bitcoin, allowing for more transactions to be processed and enhancing scalability. Users can send and receive BCH through a peer-to-peer network, with transactions recorded on a public ledger known as the blockchain. BCH is designed to offer faster and cheaper transactions, positioning itself as a practical medium for daily transactions.




What is the history and purpose behind the creation of Bitcoin Cash?


Bitcoin Cash was created on August 1, 2017, as a result of a 'hard fork' from the original Bitcoin blockchain. The purpose behind its creation was to increase the block size to allow for more transactions to be processed, improving scalability, and to reduce fees, addressing limitations faced by Bitcoin at the time. This was meant to make it a more practical and accessible digital currency for everyday transactions, tackling issues of slow transaction speeds and high costs.




What was the main reason for the hard fork that led to the creation of Bitcoin Cash?


The main reason for the hard fork that resulted in the creation of Bitcoin Cash was a disagreement within the Bitcoin community over how to scale the network. Supporters of Bitcoin Cash advocated for larger block sizes to allow for more transactions and better scalability, whereas Bitcoin proponents wanted to maintain smaller block sizes and focus on off-chain solutions like the Lightning Network.




Who were the key figures and supporters involved in the development of Bitcoin Cash (BCH)?


Key figures in the development of Bitcoin Cash include Roger Ver, often labeled 'Bitcoin Jesus' for his promotion of Bitcoin before BCH; Jihan Wu, co-founder of Bitmain which provided significant mining support; developers such as Amaury Séchet, who was the lead developer of Bitcoin ABC, the initial software implementation of BCH; and other early adopters and promoters from the Bitcoin community who were seeking a cryptocurrency with faster transaction times and lower fees.




How does the block size of Bitcoin Cash compare to Bitcoin, and why does it matter?


Bitcoin Cash has a larger block size limit compared to Bitcoin. Initially, Bitcoin Cash increased the block size to 8 MB, compared to Bitcoin's 1 MB, with the aim to allow more transactions per block and improve scalability. This matters because a larger block size can lead to faster transaction processing times and lower fees, but also carries potential downsides like increased blockchain storage requirements and possibly reduced security if miner centralization occurs.




What are the distinctive features and uses of Bitcoin Cash compared to other cryptocurrencies?


Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is distinguished by its focus on being a peer-to-peer electronic cash system with fast transaction times and low fees, aiming for everyday usability as currency. It originated from a hard fork of Bitcoin to increase the block size limit, allowing more transactions per block. This enhancement is meant to improve scalability and reduce congestion in the network. Additionally, Bitcoin Cash includes features like a new transaction signature hashing algorithm to provide replay protection and improved hardware wallet security. While sharing many technical similarities with Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash is prioritized for transactional purposes rather than as a store of value.




What is the maximum supply of Bitcoin Cash?


The maximum supply of Bitcoin Cash is capped at 21 million coins, the same as Bitcoin.




What consensus mechanism does Bitcoin Cash (BCH) use to secure its network?


Bitcoin Cash (BCH) uses a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism to secure its network.




How can someone mine Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and what are the requirements?


To mine Bitcoin Cash (BCH), one must first set up the necessary hardware. This can be either specialized ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) hardware or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) mining rig. Next, a miner needs to install mining software compatible with Bitcoin Cash, like cgminer or bfgminer, and then join a mining pool, which allows miners to work together and share rewards. An individual miner will need a BCH wallet to receive their mining rewards and must be connected to the Bitcoin Cash blockchain network. It's important to consider the electricity costs and the current difficulty of the network to ensure profitability.




What are the implications of the 2018 hard fork that resulted in Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin SV?


The 2018 hard fork that split Bitcoin Cash (BCH) into two separate blockchains, BCH and Bitcoin SV (BSV), had significant implications. It created a divide within the Bitcoin Cash community, leading to a competition for hash power and resources between the two networks. This division may have diluted the market and focus for both cryptocurrencies. Additionally, the split caused confusion and posed a challenge for service providers, exchanges, and wallet providers in terms of choosing which coin to support or how to manage the fork. The rivalry also reflected differing visions for the scalability and future of Bitcoin derivatives, with each faction advocating for their own technical and economic approaches to scaling.




What is the block reward for Bitcoin Cash and how does it incentivize miners?


At the time of writing, the block reward for Bitcoin Cash starts at 12.5 BCH per block but undergoes halving approximately every four years, similar to Bitcoin. This reward, combined with transaction fees, incentivizes miners to maintain and secure the network by validating transactions and creating new blocks.