What Is Happening with Bitcoin Cash and How Does It Affect TREZOR Users?

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On August 1st, a significant event unfolded in the cryptocurrency world: the Bitcoin network underwent a hard fork, resulting in the creation of Bitcoin Cash (BCH). This chain-split introduced a new digital asset that shares Bitcoin’s transaction history up to the point of divergence but operates independently thereafter. For TREZOR users, this development brings both opportunity and responsibility—particularly when it comes to claiming and managing their newly available Bitcoin Cash.

This guide explains everything you need to know about the Bitcoin Cash hard fork, how it impacts your TREZOR device, and what steps you should take to securely claim your BCH without compromising your funds or privacy.

Understanding the Bitcoin Cash Hard Fork

A hard fork occurs when a blockchain undergoes a protocol upgrade that is not backward compatible. In this case, a group of developers and miners decided to increase the block size limit from 1MB to 8MB and remove Segregated Witness (SegWit), a scalability solution adopted by the main Bitcoin network. Because this change wasn’t universally accepted, it led to a chain-split, effectively creating two separate cryptocurrencies:

As a result, anyone who held Bitcoin before the split automatically became entitled to an equal amount of Bitcoin Cash. For example, if you had 2 BTC in your TREZOR wallet prior to August 1st, you now have access to 2 BCH as well—provided you follow the correct claiming procedure.

Your private keys remain under your control at all times with TREZOR. This ensures you retain full ownership of both your Bitcoin and any new coins created through forks like this one.

Do You Need to Take Action?

Right now? No.
If you’re not interested in using or holding Bitcoin Cash, no action is required. Your original Bitcoin balance remains safe and unaffected on the BTC chain.

However, if you wish to claim your BCH, you’ll need to complete a simple process through the TREZOR Wallet interface after the fork date. The wallet will prompt you once you select “Bitcoin Cash (BCH)” from the currency dropdown menu.

👉 Discover how to manage multiple cryptocurrencies securely with advanced wallet features.

How to Claim Your Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

The claiming process is designed for safety and simplicity. Here’s how it works:

  1. Open TREZOR Wallet and connect your device.
  2. From the currency selector, choose Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
  3. You’ll be guided through a secure workflow that generates a new BCH address based on your seed.
  4. The system will then transfer your BCH from the mirrored BTC address to this dedicated BCH address.

This step is crucial because, although BCH shares Bitcoin’s history initially, it uses a different transaction format and address structure. Moving funds to a native BCH address ensures clean separation between networks and prevents accidental loss.

Important: Never send Bitcoin to a Bitcoin Cash address—or vice versa. Doing so may result in permanent loss of funds.

Address Format and Derivation Path

One key difference between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash lies in how addresses are generated. While both derive from the same recovery seed, they use different BIP44 derivation paths:

Bitcoin (BTC):  m/44'/0'/...
Bitcoin Cash (BCH):  m/44'/145'/...

This means that even though your BCH balance originates from your BTC holdings, the receiving addresses are entirely distinct. This separation enhances privacy and reduces the risk of cross-chain errors.

Some services may refer to Bitcoin Cash as BCC or Bcash, but TREZOR officially labels it as BCH to align with industry standards and avoid confusion.

Replay Protection: Keeping Your Transactions Safe

A major concern during chain-splits is replay attacks, where a transaction on one chain is maliciously or accidentally duplicated on the other. Fortunately, Bitcoin Cash implemented two-way replay protection, making it safe to transact on both networks independently.

Here’s how it works:

Thanks to this mechanism, users can safely manage both assets without fear of unintended double-spending.

TREZOR’s firmware was updated to support these technical changes, ensuring seamless and secure interaction with the new blockchain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will claiming Bitcoin Cash affect my original Bitcoin balance?
A: No. Claiming BCH does not involve sending or modifying your Bitcoin in any way. Your BTC remains untouched and secure.

Q: Can I use the same address for both Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash?
A: No. Despite sharing transaction history, BTC and BCH use different address formats and derivation paths. Always use the correct address type for each network.

Q: Is there a deadline for claiming my Bitcoin Cash?
A: There is no expiration date for claiming your BCH. However, it's recommended to do so when the feature becomes available to ensure full control over your funds.

Q: What if I don’t claim my BCH—will someone else get it?
A: No one else can access your BCH unless they have your recovery seed. If you choose not to claim it, the coins simply remain unspent on the BCH chain.

Q: Does TREZOR charge fees for claiming Bitcoin Cash?
A: TREZOR does not charge any service fees. You will only pay standard network transaction fees when moving your BCH.

👉 Learn more about secure cryptocurrency management across multiple blockchains.

Final Thoughts: Staying Secure During Forks

Hard forks like the Bitcoin Cash split are natural outcomes of decentralized innovation—but they also require users to stay informed and cautious. With TREZOR, you benefit from robust security architecture that protects your private keys while giving you full control over forked assets.

Remember:

As the crypto ecosystem evolves, tools that support multi-chain management will become increasingly valuable.

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