The cryptocurrency world has seen significant shifts in the wake of the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) hard fork that occurred in November 2018. One of the most consequential developments has been the rebranding and reclassification of Bitcoin Cash variants by major exchanges. Notably, OKEx, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally, announced a pivotal change that could shape how Bitcoin Cash is perceived and traded moving forward.
Exchange Decisions Reshape BCH Identity
On December 11, 2018, OKEx — headquartered in Malta — declared it would rename Bitcoin Cash ABC (Adjustable Blocksize Cap) to simply Bitcoin Cash (BCH). This move effectively positions BCHABC as the primary continuation of the original Bitcoin Cash chain in the eyes of the exchange.
Simultaneously, OKEx rebranded Bitcoin Cash SV (Satoshi’s Vision) to BSV, distinguishing it from the main BCH ticker. The switch took place on December 13 at 5:00 AM UTC+1. To facilitate this transition, both BCHABC and BCHSV spot trading were temporarily suspended. All remaining balances of the original Bitcoin Cash were settled and removed from user accounts. Trading resumed two hours later under the new ticker designations.
This decision by OKEx aligns with broader market sentiment and actions taken by other key players in the crypto ecosystem.
👉 Discover how leading exchanges influence market perception of digital assets.
Industry-Wide Support for BCHABC
OKEx isn’t alone in backing Bitcoin Cash ABC as the legitimate successor to Bitcoin Cash. On December 8, Gemini — the cryptocurrency exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins — announced it would only support the Bitcoin Cash ABC network. The platform designated this version as “Bitcoin Cash” with the ticker BCH, effectively sidelining BCHSV.
Similarly, in late October 2018, Coinbase — a major U.S.-based wallet and trading platform — made a strategic decision to support Bitcoin Cash ABC. The company stated it would “continue evaluating the security of the BCH SV chain,” citing several technical and economic factors for its preference.
Among these factors, Coinbase highlighted that BCHABC possessed a higher hash rate and maintained a longer proof-of-work (PoW) chain — key indicators of network strength and miner support in blockchain systems. These metrics are often used to determine which fork is considered dominant after a network split.
The 2018 Bitcoin Cash Hard Fork: A Brief Recap
The division between Bitcoin Cash ABC and Bitcoin Cash SV stemmed from a contentious hard fork on November 15, 2018. The split was more than just technical — it represented a philosophical rift within the Bitcoin Cash community.
- Bitcoin Cash ABC, championed by figures like Amaury Séchet and supported by early advocate Roger Ver, focused on iterative improvements, smart contract functionality, and scalability through moderate block size increases.
- Bitcoin Cash SV, promoted by Craig Wright and Calvin Ayre’s nChain, aimed to restore what they believed was the original vision of Satoshi Nakamoto, advocating for massive block sizes (up to 128MB or more) and strict protocol stability.
Despite SV’s ambitious goals, post-fork data showed that BCHABC quickly gained superior hash power and broader developer and exchange support, reinforcing its position as the de facto continuation of Bitcoin Cash for most of the market.
Legal Challenges Emerge
The aftermath of the fork wasn’t limited to technical and market dynamics. On December 6, UnitedCorp — a Florida-based company — filed a lawsuit against several prominent figures and organizations in the crypto space. Defendants included Kraken exchange, mining giant Bitmain, and Roger Ver.
The lawsuit alleges that these parties engaged in unfair practices to manipulate the BCH network for financial gain, harming UnitedCorp and other stakeholders. Specifically, UnitedCorp claimed that on November 20, the Bitcoin Cash ABC development team embedded a mechanism known as “Deep Mine” — referred to as a “poison pill” — into the blockchain. This feature allegedly gave ABC developers disproportionate control over block rewards and mining incentives, potentially influencing miner behavior post-fork.
While the legal outcomes remain uncertain, such disputes underscore the high stakes involved in blockchain governance and protocol changes.
👉 Learn how blockchain governance impacts digital asset value and stability.
Core Keywords & SEO Integration
To ensure this content meets search intent and ranks effectively, the following core keywords have been naturally integrated throughout:
- Bitcoin Cash ABC
- Bitcoin Cash SV
- BCH vs BSV
- OKEx BCH update
- Bitcoin Cash hard fork 2018
- Cryptocurrency exchange ticker changes
- BCHABC rebranding
- Blockchain fork resolution
These terms reflect common queries from users seeking clarity on the BCH split, ticker changes, and market consolidation following network forks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What happened to Bitcoin Cash ABC after the 2018 hard fork?
After the November 2018 hard fork, Bitcoin Cash ABC emerged as the dominant chain supported by major exchanges like OKEx, Coinbase, and Gemini. It retained the BCH ticker, signaling its recognition as the primary continuation of Bitcoin Cash.
Why did OKEx change BCHABC to BCH?
OKEx changed the ticker to reflect market consensus. Since BCHABC demonstrated stronger hash power, longer chain dominance, and broader ecosystem support, it was deemed the legitimate version of Bitcoin Cash. Renaming it to BCH simplified user experience and reduced confusion.
What does BSV stand for in cryptocurrency?
BSV stands for Bitcoin SV, short for “Satoshi’s Vision.” It refers to the forked version of Bitcoin Cash led by Craig Wright and nChain, aiming to scale block sizes significantly and adhere strictly to an interpreted version of Satoshi Nakamoto’s original whitepaper.
Did all exchanges support Bitcoin Cash ABC?
Most major exchanges did support BCHABC as the main Bitcoin Cash chain. However, some platforms — particularly those aligned with Craig Wright or nChain — continued listing BSV as a separate asset. Still, trading volume and liquidity favored BCHABC across global markets.
Is Bitcoin Cash ABC still active today?
Yes. Although commonly referred to simply as Bitcoin Cash (BCH), the chain continues to operate with ongoing development focused on scalability, privacy enhancements, and smart contract capabilities.
How do ticker changes affect investors?
Ticker changes can impact investor clarity and portfolio tracking. When exchanges rebrand assets, users must ensure they understand which chain they hold. In this case, holding BCH on OKEx or Coinbase means holding the ABC chain, not SV.
👉 Stay ahead of ticker changes and market shifts with real-time crypto updates.
Conclusion
The rebranding of Bitcoin Cash ABC to BCH by OKEx and other leading exchanges marked a definitive moment in crypto history — one that underscored the importance of miner support, hash rate dominance, and ecosystem consensus in determining blockchain legitimacy after a hard fork.
While ideological debates around “Satoshi’s Vision” persist, market forces have largely settled on Bitcoin Cash ABC as the principal evolution of the original Bitcoin Cash project. For investors, traders, and developers alike, understanding these shifts is crucial for navigating future forks and making informed decisions in an ever-evolving digital asset landscape.