.bch — Bitcoin Cash
Bitcoin Cash Developers · 2017
Bitcoin Cash is a cryptocurrency designed for fast and low-cost digital payments and as a store of value.
Key Features
- Larger block size for increased transaction capacity.
- Lower transaction fees compared to Bitcoin.
- Focus on peer-to-peer electronic cash functionality.
- Decentralized and permissionless network.
Best For
- Everyday transactions requiring low fees.
- Merchants seeking a payment method with faster confirmation times.
- Users prioritizing a cryptocurrency with a direct link to Bitcoin's original vision.
- A decentralized digital cash system.
Less Ideal For
- High-frequency trading requiring near-instantaneous settlement.
- Applications demanding extremely complex smart contract capabilities (compared to platforms like Ethereum).
- Long-term digital asset storage where maximum security and network effect are paramount.
- Environments where regulatory uncertainty is a primary concern.
Common Use Cases
- Sending and receiving payments globally.
- Storing digital wealth.
- Micropayments for online services.
- Purchasing goods and services where accepted.
How to Open It
- Use a Bitcoin Cash wallet (e.g., Electrum Cash, Exodus, Atomic Wallet) to manage your BCH.
- Access your BCH through exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, or Kraken.
- View transaction history on a Bitcoin Cash block explorer (e.g., Blockchair, BCH Explorer).
What is a .bch file?
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is a cryptocurrency that emerged from a hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain. Its primary goal was to increase transaction throughput and reduce fees, making it more suitable for everyday payments. BCH maintains a larger block size limit compared to Bitcoin, allowing for more transactions to be processed per block. This design choice aims to facilitate faster and cheaper peer-to-peer electronic cash transactions globally. It's a decentralized digital currency, meaning no single entity controls it.
Programs That Open .bch Files
| Platform | Program | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Electrum Cash | Free | |
| Exodus | Free | ||
| Atomic Wallet | Free | ||
| macOS | Electrum Cash | Free | |
| Exodus | Free | ||
| Atomic Wallet | Free | ||
| Linux | Electrum Cash | Free | |
| Exodus | Free | ||
| Atomic Wallet | Free | ||
| Android | Coinomi | Free | |
| Trust Wallet | Free | ||
| iOS | Coinomi | Free | |
| Trust Wallet | Free | ||
| Web Browser | Blockchair | Free | |
| Binance | Paid |
How to Convert .bch Files
| Format | Method |
|---|---|
| .USD | Exchange, Payment Processor |
| .EUR | Exchange, Payment Processor |
Common Problems with .bch Files
Frequently Asked Questions
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is a hard fork of Bitcoin (BTC) with a larger block size limit, aiming for faster and cheaper transactions as digital cash.
Yes, Bitcoin Cash utilizes a robust proof-of-work consensus mechanism and strong cryptography, inherited from Bitcoin, making it secure.
Yes, BCH is designed for peer-to-peer electronic cash transactions, making it suitable for everyday purchases where accepted, due to its lower fees and faster confirmation times.
Technical Details
The BCH blockchain is a distributed ledger that records all transactions. Each transaction is digitally signed using private keys, and blocks of transactions are added to the chain through a proof-of-work consensus mechanism. BCH utilizes an adaptive block size limit, adjusting dynamically based on network demand, which is a key differentiator from Bitcoin's fixed block size (prior to SegWit). It uses the SHA-256 hashing algorithm for mining.