It has surely appeared in almost every price list you have consulted, but they rarely stop to explain what it really is. Although it shares part of its name and code with the world’s most famous cryptocurrency, it is important to understand that Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is not Bitcoin, but a project with its own personality and objectives.
This cryptocurrency was born in 2017 as a result of an intense debate in the community about the future and scalability of the original network. While traditional Bitcoin has established itself as a «digital gold» to store long-term value, Bitcoin Cash emerged with the mission of being faithful to the idea of an electronic cash system. Its proposal is simple: to be a currency designed to pay for coffee, purchases or services quickly and with minimal fees.
For those seeking a functional and economical alternative for daily transactions, buying Bitcoin Cash has become a logical option within an ecosystem that seeks to be increasingly practical and accessible for everyone.
Why Bitcoin Cash exists: the debate that split Bitcoin in two
In 2017, Bitcoin ran into a data processing restriction that tested its usefulness. The network was saturated: the 1 MB per block limit was insufficient to process the growing number of users, which skyrocketed fees and caused desperately slow confirmations. Using Bitcoin for small payments no longer made sense, since sometimes the cost of the transfer exceeded the value of the purchase.
The debate to solve this divided the community. On one side were those who preferred external solutions; on the other, figures like Roger Ver and Jihan Wu led the side that bet on «on-chain scaling». Their proposal was simple: increase the block size so that more transactions would fit in each one, keeping the network fast and cheap, as dictated by the original concept of «electronic cash».
Failing to reach a consensus, the break was inevitable. On August 1, 2017, upon reaching block 478558, a hard fork occurred: a fork where the chain split into two incompatible paths. From this separation was born Bitcoin Cash (BCH), following the big-block vision, while original Bitcoin (BTC) continued with its small-block structure and a focus on store of value.
How Bitcoin Cash works
|
Technical Pillar |
Description of operation |
Benefit for the user |
| Consensus and Supply | Uses Proof-of-Work (SHA-256) with a 21 million coin limit and inherited halvings. | Maintains the same robust security and scarcity of the original design. |
| On-Chain Scaling | Blocks expanded to 32 MB, processing transactions directly on the main chain. | Enables near-instant transactions with fees of fractions of a cent. |
| CashTokens | Allows the creation of native tokens and basic smart contracts on the BCH blockchain. | Opens the door to NFTs, stablecoins, and decentralized applications (DeFi) without extra layers. |
| Difficulty Adjustment | Uses the ASERT (DAA) algorithm, which adjusts smoothly block by block. | Guarantees network stability and constant 10-minute confirmation times. |
| Schnorr Signatures | A more compact and efficient digital signature algorithm than traditional ECDSA. | Greater privacy, lighter transactions, and better multi-signature account management. |
| CashAddr Format | Own address format to clearly differentiate the BCH network from Bitcoin’s. | Operational security: drastically reduces the risk of sending funds to the wrong network. |
Use cases of Bitcoin Cash
|
Use case |
Description of the problem | Bitcoin Cash solution |
Key advantage |
| Remittances and Global Payments | Slow (days) and expensive (up to 10% fee) transfers. | Direct international money transfer without bank intermediaries. | Settlement in minutes and fees less than a cent. |
| Micropayments and Content | Network fees (gas) exceeding the payment value (e.g., paying 5tosend5tosend1). | Allows economical transactions of very small amounts. | Viability for tips to creators, pay-per-article, or in-game payments. |
| Retail Commerce | Card fees (3%) and block confirmation waits. | Instant payments via Zero-Conf transactions. | Fast experience like a credit card, without chargeback risk. |
| DeFi and Tokenization | High gas fees on networks like Ethereum to create tokens. | CashTokens protocol to issue assets (NFTs, Stablecoins). | Programmable money and decentralized finance with minimal costs. |
How to buy Bitcoin Cash on Bitnovo
Buying BCH is a simple process designed for any type of user. The fundamental steps are:
- Registration: Create your account on the web platform or download the official app.
- Verification: Complete the security process to validate your identity.
- Method Choice: Select how much you want to buy and how you want to pay.
Four ways to buy Bitcoin Cash instantly
|
Main advantage |
|
| Apple Pay and Google Pay | Buy in seconds with a tap from your phone. Maximum convenience. |
| Bank Transfer | The traditional option, secure and robust for any amount. |
| Bitnovo Vouchers | Buy with cash at more than 40,000 physical points and redeem in the App. |
| Instant SEPA Transfer | Receive your BCH instantly, operating directly from your bank. |
To conclude, BCH is consolidated as a Bitcoin fork specifically designed to offer fast and cheap payments, backed by a clear technical proposal that prioritizes utility over speculation.
Buying Bitcoin Cash is an accessible and straightforward option from Bitnovo, where you can acquire your assets securely and choose the method that best suits your pace. Ready to take the step? Buy Bitcoin Cash on Bitnovo.
