[News Brief] Apr 22, morning | Bitcoin Faces Possibility of Two Forks in 2026

Bitcoin Faces Possibility of Two Forks in 2026

Bitcoin could face the possibility of two forks in 2026, according to Odaily, citing Bitcoin.com News.

According to the report, developer Paul Sztorc is pushing a hard fork called eCash, which is scheduled to activate at block height 964,000 around Aug. 21, 2026.

Another proposal, the BIP-110 soft fork, is also said to carry the possibility of an unexpected chain split during the August signaling period.

If the Bitcoin chain splits, existing UTXOs would be duplicated, allowing holders to receive assets on both ledgers at a 1:1 ratio. However, the actual usability of forked coins would depend on replay protection, mining difficulty, and market demand.

For users holding assets in personal wallets, if they control their private keys at the time of the snapshot, they would be able to sign transactions on each chain. For exchange-held assets, since the platform controls the private keys, whether forked coins are distributed would depend on each exchange’s policy.

U.S. Crypto Clarity Act Has 50% Chance of Being Enacted Before August Recess

According to Odaily, the probability that the Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Clarity Act will be enacted before Congress’s August recess has risen to 50% on Kalshi.

Pete Rizzo said on X that lawmakers “want to get this done to provide certainty around consumer protection,” indicating that discussions on clarifying crypto regulation are entering the final stage.

The bill is considered a major regulatory issue for the industry, as it aims to clarify the supervisory framework and consumer protection standards for the U.S. crypto market.

Gate Sees $207 Million in Net Outflows Over Past 7 Days Following Theft Incident

Wu Blockchain reported, citing DefiLlama data, that Gate recorded $207 million in net outflows over the past seven days in the aftermath of a user theft incident.

Among centralized exchanges, Gate ranked second in net outflows. Over the same period, Binance posted $308 million in net inflows, ranking first in inflows.

Wu Blockchain also reported that Binance and Bybit saw significant fund outflows over the past month due to the impact of the European Union’s delisting policy.

Steak ’n Shake Cuts Credit Card Costs Through Bitcoin Payments

U.S. fast-food chain Steak ’n Shake said it reduced credit card payment costs by accepting Bitcoin payments.

According to @pete_rizzo_, the company said, “We reinvested the money saved through BTC into making our menu ingredients healthier,” adding that “doubting the power of BTC is a big mistake.”

The statement is seen as an example of the growing use of Bitcoin payments in the restaurant industry.

Fidelity Data: BTC in Accumulation Zone, Approaching Long-Term Support

Bitcoin Magazine reported on July 11, citing Fidelity’s “Bitcoin Support and Resistance” data, that BTC is in an accumulation zone and is gradually moving closer to the “power law support line.”

The indicator shows the current price’s relative position based on long-term price trends. In the market, when prices approach major long-term support levels, it is sometimes interpreted as a potential buy-the-dip zone.

BTC Falls Below $64,000

According to OKX market data, BTC was trading at $63,970.90, down 0.11% on the day.