The highly anticipated Bitcoin Cash (BCH) hard fork took place on November 15, 2018, resulting in two distinct cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin SV (BCH SV) and Bitcoin Cash ABC (BCH ABC). This split was not just technical—it represented a fundamental ideological divide within the BCH community about the future of decentralized digital money.
In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll break down the key differences between BCH SV and BCH ABC, including their development teams, block sizes, hash rates, mining support, technological features, and major backers. Whether you're an investor, miner, or blockchain enthusiast, understanding these distinctions is crucial for navigating the post-fork landscape.
Understanding the Bitcoin Cash Fork
A hard fork occurs when a blockchain undergoes a protocol change so significant that the new version becomes incompatible with the old one. In this case, the Bitcoin Cash network split into two separate chains—each with its own rules, roadmap, and vision for scalability and utility.
At the heart of the conflict were two competing philosophies:
- One side wanted to scale Bitcoin Cash by increasing block sizes dramatically and minimizing protocol changes—returning to what they believe was Satoshi Nakamoto’s original vision.
- The other advocated for ongoing innovation, including new smart contract capabilities and improved transaction ordering.
This ideological rift led to the creation of BCH SV (Satoshi’s Vision) and BCH ABC ( Adjustable Blocksize Cap).
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Bitcoin SV (BCH SV): Returning to "Satoshi's Vision"
Bitcoin SV positions itself as a return to the original design principles of Bitcoin. Proponents argue that large block sizes are essential for mass adoption, enabling low-cost transactions at scale.
Key Features of BCH SV
- Developer Team: nChain
- Block Size: 128MB (significantly larger than most blockchains)
- Hash Rate: Initially captured ~70% of total BCH hash power
- Blocks Mined (Post-Fork): First five blocks secured by SV miners
- Mining Pools: SVPool, Mempool, and other pro-SV mining collectives
- CTOR (Canonical Transaction Ordering): Not implemented
- Oracles Support: No native support for oracles or advanced smart contracts
- Philosophy: Stability, predictability, and adherence to early Bitcoin protocols
Major Supporters
- Calvin Ayre – Billionaire entrepreneur and founder of CoinGeek
- Craig Wright – Controversial figure who claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto
- Jimmy Nguyen – Former chairman of the Bitcoin Association
- CoinGeek – One of the largest mining operations supporting BCH SV
- Bitcoin.org – Listed both chains post-fork (though neutral in stance)
BCH SV emphasizes enterprise use cases, aiming to become a global ledger for data and microtransactions. Its massive 128MB blocks allow thousands of transactions per second under optimal conditions.
However, critics argue that such large blocks centralize mining power, favoring only well-resourced mining pools and data centers.
Bitcoin Cash ABC (BCH ABC): Innovation Through Iteration
In contrast, BCH ABC focuses on continuous improvement and technical innovation. It aims to evolve Bitcoin Cash into a more functional platform capable of supporting decentralized applications (dApps) and complex financial logic.
Key Features of BCH ABC
- Developer Team: Bitcoin ABC (original developers of the Bitcoin Cash protocol)
- Block Size: 32MB (still large by industry standards)
- Hash Rate: Held approximately 18–28% of network power post-fork
- Blocks Mined (Post-Fork): Successfully mined 10 consecutive blocks early on
- Mining Pools: BTC.com, Bitcoin.com, and others aligned with ABC
- CTOR Enabled: Yes – improves block propagation efficiency
- Oracles Support: Yes – allows integration of real-world data into smart contracts
- Philosophy: Agile development, forward-looking upgrades
Major Supporters
- Roger Ver – Early Bitcoin advocate and investor in multiple crypto projects
- Jihan Wu – Co-founder of Bitmain, one of the largest mining hardware manufacturers
- Bitmain – Provided mining equipment and hash power support
- Bitcoin.com – Popular wallet and information portal backing BCH ABC
- OpenBazaar – Decentralized marketplace leveraging BCH for payments
By enabling CTOR and oracles, BCH ABC laid the groundwork for more sophisticated blockchain applications. These features make it more developer-friendly compared to BCH SV.
Yet, purists criticized these changes as unnecessary bloat, arguing they deviate from Bitcoin’s simplicity.
BCH SV vs BCH ABC: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Bitcoin SV (BCH SV) | Bitcoin Cash ABC (BCH ABC) |
|---|---|---|
| Block Size | 128MB | 32MB |
| Hash Rate Dominance | Higher (~70%) | Lower (~25%) |
| Transaction Ordering | Legacy Topological Order | CTOR Enabled |
| Smart Contract Capabilities | Limited | Oracle support enables richer dApps |
| Development Philosophy | Stability & Predictability | Continuous Innovation |
| Mining Pool Backing | SVPool, Mempool | BTC.com, Bitcoin.com |
| Key Backers | Craig Wright, Calvin Ayre | Roger Ver, Jihan Wu, Bitmain |
While both chains inherited the full transaction history of Bitcoin Cash up to the fork point, their paths diverged sharply afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the main difference between BCH SV and BCH ABC?
A: The core difference lies in their development philosophy. BCH SV prioritizes stability and large block sizes to achieve high throughput, while BCH ABC supports ongoing protocol upgrades like CTOR and oracles to enhance functionality.
Q: Which chain has more mining power?
A: Immediately after the fork, BCH SV held a significant majority of the hash rate, giving it stronger short-term security. However, hash rate can fluctuate based on miner incentives and market dynamics.
Q: Do I need to take action if I held BCH before the fork?
A: If you held BCH in a personal wallet before November 15, 2018, you likely received an equal amount of both BCH SV and BCH ABC tokens. Users on exchanges should check whether the platform supports both chains.
Q: Which cryptocurrency has better long-term potential?
A: This depends on your belief in scalability models. If you value enterprise-grade data recording and massive throughput, BCH SV may appeal more. If you prefer innovation and programmable money, BCH ABC offers greater flexibility.
Q: Are both coins still active today?
A: Yes. Both Bitcoin SV (BSV) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH)—the latter being the continuation of the BCH ABC chain—remain active and traded on major exchanges. Note that “Bitcoin Cash” today refers to the BCH ABC lineage.
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Final Thoughts
The Bitcoin Cash fork was more than a technical split—it was a clash of visions for the future of decentralized money. On one side, BCH SV champions a return to big-block fundamentals under the banner of “Satoshi’s Vision.” On the other, BCH ABC pushes for evolutionary upgrades that expand what cryptocurrency can do.
Both chains continue to operate independently, each cultivating its own ecosystem of developers, miners, and users. For investors and technologists alike, this fork serves as a powerful reminder: in open-source blockchains, disagreement doesn’t mean failure—it fuels innovation.
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