What Is Bitcoin Cash (BCH)?

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) was created to make digital money faster and cheaper for everyone. As a popular cryptocurrency, bitcoin cash aims to offer lower fees and quicker transactions than Bitcoin. Understanding bitcoin cash means looking at its price, uses, and how you can buy or store it. Whether you're curious about the main differences from Bitcoin or seeking the latest price and buying tips, this guide covers it all. By the end, you'll know what sets BCH apart, how it works, where to follow live price data, and how to safely own or trade BCH using secure platforms like OKX.

What Is Bitcoin Cash (BCH)?

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is a cryptocurrency designed as a fast and affordable peer-to-peer electronic cash system. It was created in 2017 after a split from the original Bitcoin blockchain. Bitcoin cash explained simply: it aims to serve everyday transactions with lower fees and quicker confirmation times.

BCH’s larger block size compared to Bitcoin allows more transactions per block, making the network less congested and transactions faster. This structure addresses the scalability issues that Bitcoin faced, particularly as user adoption grew and network fees increased.

Peer-to-peer electronic cash means individuals can send digital money directly to one another, no middleman required. The goal of Bitcoin Cash is to support everyday payments, like buying coffee or splitting a bill, with small, fast, and inexpensive transfers.

OKX makes it easy for beginners and advanced users to understand and access BCH with step-by-step tutorials and resources—helping anyone get started.

• Bitcoin-Cash price today
• How to buy Bitcoin-Cash BCH

Why Was Bitcoin Cash Created?

The Bitcoin scaling debate sparked the creation of BCH. As Bitcoin grew in popularity, its 1MB block size limit led to higher fees and slower transactions. Some in the community wanted bigger blocks for faster, low-cost payments. Others, focused on decentralization and security, preferred smaller blocks. In August 2017, Bitcoin Cash launched with 8MB blocks (now 32MB), prioritizing scalability and affordability for daily use.

Bitcoin Cash Price & Market Data (Live)

Understanding the latest bitcoin cash price USD is crucial for investors and users. BCH trades on major exchanges like OKX, offering live market data, charts, and analytics. Prices update in real time as market supply and demand shift.

Key metrics include market cap and total supply. The BCH market cap is calculated by multiplying current price by total coins in circulation. Supply is capped at 21 million, similar to Bitcoin, ensuring scarcity.

You can track BCH price trends, volume, and liquidity using live price charts and widgets, including those on OKX’s dedicated bitcoin cash trading page. OKX’s real-time tools let you monitor charts, order books, and trends—helpful for making informed decisions.

Current BCH Price and Chart

Visit leading exchanges like OKX for live BCH/USD price and interactive charts. As of now, the circulating supply is nearly 19.7 million BCH, with a total capped at 21 million. Market cap and price fluctuate throughout the day based on trading activity.

Historical Price Performance

Bitcoin Cash has seen significant price swings since its inception. At launch in August 2017, BCH debuted around $300 USD. It spiked near $4,000 in late 2017, echoing the broader crypto bull run. After the peak, BCH price settled, remaining volatile and influenced by network upgrades and broader market trends. When compared to BTC, BCH often experiences sharper short-term moves but mirrors overall crypto market cycles.

The Story: Bitcoin Cash Origins & History

Bitcoin Cash’s history starts with the famous Bitcoin hard fork in August 2017. The split was triggered by disagreements over how to scale Bitcoin for global payments. Bitcoin Cash supporters wanted bigger blocks to allow more transactions per second, while others in the community emphasized decentralizing by keeping smaller blocks.

The community response was energetic—BCH quickly gathered users, miners, and developers focused on building a fast, peer-to-peer cash alternative. Over time, BCH underwent several protocol upgrades, keeping the project on track with its roadmap.

OKX has supported BCH from the very beginning, offering both trading and wallet services to help users navigate the split and ongoing changes.

The 2017 Hard Fork Explained

On August 1, 2017, a hard fork split off Bitcoin Cash from the original Bitcoin blockchain. The main difference: BCH increased the block size to 8MB (later upgraded to 32MB), boosting transaction capacity. The split highlighted philosophical differences—Bitcoin aimed for digital gold, while BCH focused on being true digital cash.

Major Upgrades and Network Milestones

BCH developers have implemented key upgrades since 2017, including improved signature hashing, increased block size, and adaptive mining difficulty. Notable milestones:

• 2018: Implementation of Schnorr signatures for enhanced privacy and scalability
• Regular upgrades every May and November
• May 2023: “CashTokens” upgrade expands BCH’s functionality, supporting smart contracts and new asset types

Each major fork and upgrade reflects BCH’s dedication to usability and performance for global payments.

Bitcoin Cash vs. Bitcoin: Key Differences

Understanding the distinctions between bitcoin vs bitcoin cash highlights what makes BCH unique. Beyond the name, both blockchains pursue different visions and technical parameters.

The primary differences are centered on block size, transaction speed, fees, and intended use cases. Here’s how they compare:

Speed, Fees, and Block Size

BCH’s larger blocks drastically reduce fees and allow more payments to clear simultaneously. This suits practical, daily transactions, while BTC focuses more on long-term value storage.

Use Cases Comparison

• Bitcoin Cash: Best for quick payments, remittances, and retail purchases due to low fees and fast settlement.
• Bitcoin: Often viewed as digital gold—a reliable long-term store of value, less suited for everyday small payments.

💡 Pro Tip: On OKX, you can trade both BCH and BTC pairs with low fees and deep liquidity, making it easy to compare and swap between them instantly. For a deeper dive, you can compare Bitcoin vs Bitcoin Cash.

BCH Tokenomics: Supply, Mining & Rewards

Like Bitcoin, bitcoin cash supply is capped at 21 million coins. The deflationary design helps to preserve value over time. As of 2024, about 94% of BCH is already in circulation.

BCH is secured by a proof-of-work mining process similar to Bitcoin. Miners validate transactions, protect the network, and earn block rewards that decrease over time via scheduled "halving" events. Mining difficulty adjusts automatically, keeping blocks steady at roughly one every ten minutes.

OKX transparently tracks BCH on-chain, providing clear data and audits through their Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) system, so users always know their BCH is fully backed.

Block Rewards and Halvings

BCH began with a 12.5 BCH block reward, cut in half every 210,000 blocks (roughly every four years). Past halving dates:

• 1st Halving: April 2020 (12.5 to 6.25 BCH)
• 2nd Halving: Expected 2024 (6.25 to 3.125 BCH)

Halvings slow new supply, typically impacting miner revenue and potentially influencing BCH price and inflation rate.

Mining and Network Security

Bitcoin Cash uses the SHA-256 proof-of-work algorithm. The broader mining pool network makes the chain secure against 51% attacks. Major global mining pools—including ViaBTC and BTC.com—support BCH. Best practices include continuous difficulty adjustment and decentralization to deter attacks.

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re interested in BCH mining stats or want extra assurance, check OKX’s transparent Proof-of-Reserves dashboard—it’s updated in real time for user peace of mind.

Core Use Cases: Payments, Merchants, Send/Receive

The bitcoin cash use cases revolve around global peer-to-peer payments and affordable merchant solutions. Thanks to its ultra-low fees and high speed, BCH excels in daily financial transactions and micro-payments.

Individuals use BCH for cross-border money transfers, remittances, splitting bills, and tipping online—all at a fraction of the cost of traditional payment services.

On the business side, hundreds of merchants accept BCH using POS systems, gateways, or QR codes. Popular online retailers, service providers, and even physical stores have adopted BCH for its efficiency and negligible transaction costs. Success stories range from coffee shops in Japan to e-commerce stores in the US.

OKX provides business onboarding and payment gateway tools, making it easy for merchants and freelancers to accept BCH globally.

Why Do Merchants Use BCH?

• Almost zero transaction fees
• Global, borderless acceptance
• Fast transactions (confirmed in seconds)
• Ideal for micro- and macro-payments

Notable adopters include electronics shops, gaming sites, freelance platforms, and travel services. As BCH grows, support from gateways like OKX Wallet makes merchant acceptance even easier.

How to Buy Bitcoin Cash (Step-by-Step)

Wondering how to buy bitcoin cash safely? With OKX, you can set up a verified account and own BCH in minutes. Here’s your guide from registration to purchase.

First, sign up for an OKX account. Provide your email or phone, create a password, and complete identity verification for increased limits and security. Next, fund your account—OKX supports credit/debit cards, bank transfers, crypto deposits, and P2P trading.

You can buy BCH directly with the spot market, or use P2P options for local currencies. The OKX mobile app offers an even simpler interface for trading and monitoring your balances on the go. Compared to buying on apps like Cash App, OKX offers more funding choices, lower fees, global access, and greater transparency.

Buy BCH on OKX: Quick Start

1. Register for free at OKX.
2. Complete KYC/verification.
3. Fund your account (card, bank, crypto, or P2P).
4. Navigate to “Buy Crypto” and select BCH.
5. Choose spot, simple buy, or P2P.
6. Confirm and receive BCH instantly in your OKX wallet.

💡 Pro Tip: Funding with stablecoins or your local fiat speeds up buying and reduces conversion fees on OKX.

Buying via Cash App and Other Apps

Some mobile apps, like Cash App, offer BCH purchase. Steps are similar: sign up, verify, fund, and buy. However, app-based options may offer limited liquidity, fewer withdrawal options, and higher spreads than exchanges like OKX. For active traders, OKX’s trading dashboard offers advanced order types and charting tools, while apps are best for small, simple purchases.

How to Store Bitcoin Cash Safely: Wallets & Security

After buying, secure storage is key. There are several types of bitcoin cash wallet—hardware, mobile, web, and multisig. Each caters to different needs:

• Hardware wallets (like Ledger, Trezor): Best for large, long-term holdings; offline by default
• Mobile wallets (e.g., OKX Wallet app, Electron Cash): Ideal for everyday spending and quick access
• Web wallets (OKX Web): Convenient, browser-based for trading and daily use
• Multisig wallets: Shared control, great for business or group funds

Choosing the best BCH wallet depends on your balance, usage patterns, and security needs. Backup your wallet, store your recovery phrase offline, and never share your private keys.

OKX Wallet includes advanced security, two-factor authentication (2FA), and insurance coverage for eligible custodial assets, letting users store BCH safely with confidence.

Best Wallet Types for BCH

• Hardware wallet: Top-tier security for large balances
• Mobile wallet: Speed and convenience for regular payments
• Web wallet: Easy for trading and fast access to exchanges
• Multisig wallet: Extra security, business/dispute management

Security Best Practices

• Always back up private keys or recovery phrases offline
• Enable 2FA on all accounts
• Regularly update software and avoid phishing links

OKX helps protect user funds through robust risk controls, proof-of-reserves, and advanced encryption. To learn more, see our crypto wallet best practices.

Trading Bitcoin Cash: OKX Features, Tools & Transparency

Trading bitcoin cash is accessible on OKX’s global platform, featuring:

• Spot trading: Buy/sell BCH for USD, USDT, BTC, and more
• Derivatives: Trade BCH futures and perpetuals for advanced strategies
• Mobile and desktop trading: Monitor charts, set alerts, and execute trades from anywhere
• Order types: Limit, market, stop, and OCO for tactical entries/exits

What sets OKX apart is their Proof-of-Reserves (PoR), transparently showing all BCH held on behalf of users. This built-in trust helps traders verify the safety of their deposits. OKX’s trading interface offers deep liquidity and tight spreads, favorable for both beginners and institutional traders.

Bitcoin Cash Ecosystem: Wallets, Apps, and Recent Upgrades

The bch ecosystem includes diverse wallets, apps, and frequent network upgrades. Popular wallets supporting BCH include Ledger, Trezor, Electron Cash, Edge, and OKX Wallet. Aggregators like Coinomi provide multi-asset management with BCH compatibility.

Beyond wallets, BCH integrates with merchant gateways (BitPay, GoCrypto), social tipping apps (Tippr, Memo), and smart contract platforms after the CashTokens upgrade.

OKX stands out as a leading global wallet partner, supporting smooth BCH integration for personal, business, and developer needs.

Wallet and App Integrations

Top wallets for BCH:

• OKX Wallet (mobile/web)
• Electron Cash
• Ledger/Trezor hardware wallets
• Coinomi multi-asset wallet

Diversity ensures BCH users can choose tools that match their needs—security, spending, or business acceptance.

Network Upgrades and Future Development

Recent upgrades, like 2023’s "CashTokens" and expanded Op_Return, enable on-chain smart contracts and asset creation directly on BCH. The upcoming roadmap focuses on scaling, privacy, and new payment features—keeping BCH adaptable for changing user and business requirements.

Latest Bitcoin Cash News & Trends

Stay updated on bitcoin cash news with live feeds from sites like CoinMarketCap or OKX’s news dashboard. Recent headlines include:

• "BCH Price Rallies After Network Upgrade"
• "Major Merchant Integrates Bitcoin Cash Payments"
• "Regulatory Clarity Drives Adoption in Asia"
• "Social Media Buzz: #BCHPayments"

Regulatory news and social media trends often impact BCH’s adoption and price. OKX offers a built-in live news feed, helping investors and enthusiasts act on the latest insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to send Bitcoin Cash (BCH)?

To send BCH, log in to your OKX account or BCH wallet. Go to "Withdraw" or "Send," enter the recipient's BCH address, specify the amount, and confirm. On mobile apps, scan a QR code for easy sending. Always double-check the address before sending funds.

How to buy Bitcoin Cash with cash or card?

You can buy BCH with cash or card through OKX—register, verify, and use the “Buy Crypto” section to pay with card or bank transfer. Some apps and exchanges also support P2P or retail cash deposits. Always use trusted platforms and enable security features.

Is Bitcoin Cash safe to use or invest?

Bitcoin Cash is built on a secure, proof-of-work blockchain and supported by reputable exchanges like OKX. User safety depends on strong passwords, 2FA, and secure wallet practices. As with all crypto investments, prices fluctuate, so invest wisely and store assets safely.

How does Bitcoin Cash differ from Bitcoin?

The main differences: Bitcoin Cash has larger blocks (32MB), lower fees (<$0.01), and faster transactions. Its philosophy is everyday payments, while Bitcoin focuses more on long-term value storage.

Where can I store Bitcoin Cash? What is the best BCH wallet?

You can store BCH in hardware (Ledger, Trezor), mobile (OKX, Electron Cash), or web wallets. For top-security and convenience, try OKX Wallet, which also features proof-of-reserves.

Conclusion

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) aims to make digital payments simple, fast, and affordable. With low fees, fast confirmation times, and global merchant support, it's ideal for everyday transactions and remittances. Its capped supply and robust mining give BCH lasting value, while secure wallet choices help keep your crypto safe. Ready to experience fast peer-to-peer payments? Visit OKX to buy, store, or trade bitcoin cash today.

Risk Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency trading and holding involve risk. Prices are highly volatile and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Always use security best practices, such as enabling 2FA, backing up wallets, and storing private keys safely.