BITCOIN DECODED / LEARNING LIBRARY
Understand Bitcoin forks.
Code forks, hard forks, soft forks and examples: Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin and Bitcoin Genesis 1.
What is a Bitcoin fork?
The word fork has several meanings. A code fork copies a repository. A hard fork changes consensus rules so older nodes may reject new blocks. A soft fork tightens constraints within the previous rules. A code fork need not share Bitcoin’s blockchain history.
Consensus rule changes ↗Different branches, different histories.
| Project | Relationship | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin Cash (BCH) | A network that split from Bitcoin in 2017 with different rules. | Project source ↗ |
| Bitcoin SV (BSV) | A network that split from Bitcoin Cash in 2018. | Project source ↗ |
| Litecoin (LTC) | Bitcoin-derived code with its own chain and parameters. | Project source ↗ |
| Bitcoin Genesis 1 (BTC1) | A separate project described in Bitcoin Holding Ecosystem materials. Implementation claims require verification. | Dedicated BTC1 guide ↗ |
What carries over—and what does not?
Shared code or historical roots do not establish identical supply, security, governance, liquidity or custody. Compare the repository, genesis block, network rules and observable issuance. Do not expose private keys to claim fork assets.
Wallet security source ↗