Funding multisig address update and announcement about lead maintainer freetrader
Multisig address update
On May 27th 2026, BCHN moved its development funding stash of about 2048 BCH from our longstanding 3-of-5 public multisig address bitcoincash:prnc2exht3zxlrqqcat690tc85cvfuypngh7szx6mk to another 3-of-5 address at bitcoincash:pq22wvjxu3et9rxgw8zgwcs0j3270gs6lumlq52mxl. The two multisig addresses share four out of five co-signers, with one exception: freetrader, BCHN’s founding lead maintainer. The fact that four of the five cosigners are carried over can be verified via comparing public keys in the unlocking scripts of each address.
To the best of our knowledge, nobody has been able to contact freetrader since May 2024, two years ago. We do not know the precise reasons for his/her disappearance, and BCHN has been able to operate without major complications during this time. However, the prolonged absence did degrade availability and security of funds held at the multisig address, and was deemed unsustainable. Thus it was moved, freetrader replaced with a more active cosigner.
In the interest of keeping the active cosigners safe from harassment and persecution, we would like to continue to conceal their identities for now. They are among the well respected figures in the community that have long track records of being trustworthy.
Cosigners to the development fund hold no additional power beyond distributing payments to developers and maintainers working on BCHN’s software and infrastructure. As far as we can observe, the prevailing way to determine directions and consensus for BCH the network itself continues to be the CHIP process, which is open to anyone. Day-to-day development decisions at BCHN are made by maintainers of its Gitlab repository, which is fully transparent.
Comments on freetrader from some BCHN people and fans in comment time order
@im_uname: I can’t believe the man(woman?), the myth, the absolute legend actually pulled a Satoshi on us without leaving us a million additional frozen coins to agonize over for eternity! But it’s okay, his/her commitment to pursuing freedom and permissionless money is a much bigger legacy than any number of coins. We’re gonna stick to it, he/she is welcome back anytime he/she decides to pop up again.
@cculianu: Freetrader is/was a wonderful person that helped to start the BTCFork movement way back before BCH even existed. He found me on reddit complaining about the state of affairs and saying I’m a dev too and I can fix things… and he pulled me into working with him on forking from Core. He and Amaury and I worked on ABC and got it ready for August 1, 2017. Were it not for Freetrader I likely would not be involved in Bitcoin Cash now (or Bitcoin at all). I don’t know where I would be. This man (woman? But I think it was a man personally) really changed my life. I hope he comes back!
@emergent_reasons: Freetrader, I will always hold deep appreciation for you and the others who took action to keep Bitcoin alive and well. Working with you has been a pleasure and a privilege. I look forward to catching up some day.
@shadowofharbringer: FreeTrader was very much like Satoshi. He saved Bitcoin in 2016 as Bitcoin Cash, and just like Satoshi he developed the project to the point where his successors could carry the mission forward. When he saw BCH is in good hands, he disappeared, I would assume for security and personal safety reasons.
@fpelliccioni: I don’t know your real name. I don’t know your face. I don’t really know who you are outside of this space.
What I do know is that, for some reason, I miss you. Every now and then I still write to you on Slack or Twitter, hoping for some sign that may never come. It may sound sentimental, but it is true: you are missed. At least, I miss you.
I still hope you come back someday. But if that never happens, I just want to say thank you — for everything you did for peer-to-peer electronic cash, for Bitcoin Cash, and for your leadership, kindness, and constant willingness to help. Those things say a lot about the kind of person you are.
@moleccc: freetrader is a hero.
@dagur: freetrader has the unique combination of people and technical skill to get the biggest dorks to cooperate in the biggest crisis towards a common goal, welcome back any time.
@jonaldfyookball: One of the great people in the Bitcoin Cash movement, instrumental in getting things going with BCHN.
@checksum0: FT was there when the community needed someone qualified to step up to the plate, he will be dearly missed for it.
@leandrodimarco: Freetrader, I hope that wherever you are, you have found a place of peace and purpose, where personal fulfillment—and the realization of the vision that brought us together—are truly within reach. I carry with me deep gratitude for the space we shared, for the ideas and conversations that enriched me, and especially for your generosity with time, your openness, and your patience. I received the news of your absence with genuine sadness. Still, I look toward the future with hope, holding the wish that our paths may cross again.
@sickpig: I have very fond memories of freetrader even though I never met him IRL, I really enjoyed working with him when we helped to bootstrap BCH.