On November 15th at approximately 12:00 UTC, the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) blockchain is planning to undergo a hard fork. As this is a contentious hard fork, it is possible that there may be a chain-split between the two main BCH clients, BCHN and ABC. Currently, > 70% of BCH blocks are signaling for BCHN; you can monitor miner signaling between the two here.
Spot markets and balances
At approximately 11:00am UTC, FTX.us will pause BCH deposits and withdrawals. After the fork has been completed and we are comfortable that the chain has stabilized and is operating as normal, BCH deposits and withdrawals will be re-enabled. The BCH ticker will represent the chain with the most work done.
If the fork results in two competing chains, users will be credited with the BCH from the chain with the most work done. If the minority chain receives sufficient traction, defined as maintaining 10% of the hashrate, FTX.us will enable users to withdraw their coins on the minority chain. In this instance, a snapshot will be taken at approximately 12:00pm UTC, and any users with a BCH balance at this time will be credited with the equivalent assets on the minority chain. We will closely monitor the situation and may list markets for the minority chain if we deem there to be sufficient demand.
As FTX.us uses Genesis for loans on our spot-margin market, we will be using their fork policy for anyone that holds a spot-margin BCH position. Please see below for their policy.
Genesis hard fork policy
(a) Notification
In the event of a public announcement of a future Hard Fork or an Airdrop in the blockchain for any Loaned Assets or Collateral, Lender shall provide email notification to Borrower.
(b) No Immediate Termination of Loans Due to Hard Fork
In the event of a Hard Fork in the blockchain for any Loaned Assets or an Airdrop, any outstanding Loans will not be automatically terminated. Borrower and Lender may agree, regardless of Loan type, either (i) to terminate the Loan without any penalties on an agreed upon date or (ii) for Lender to manage the Hard Fork on the behalf of Borrower. If the Lender manages the Hard Fork on behalf of Borrower, Borrower shall return the Loaned Assets to Lender two business days prior to the scheduled Hard Fork or Airdrop. Lender shall not be obligated to return any Collateral to the Borrower during the period in which Lender manages the Loaned Assets on the behalf of Borrower. Lender shall fork the Loaned Assets, and following the Hard Fork shall return to Borrower the Loaned Assets but not any New Tokens (as defined below). For any whole days in which Lender manages the Loan Digital Currency pursuant to this section, the Loan Fee for those days shall not accrue. Nothing herein shall relieve, waive, or otherwise satisfy Borrower’s obligations hereunder, including without limitation, the return of the Loaned Assets at the termination of the Loan and payment of accrued Loan Fees, which includes the per diem amounts for days on which Borrower transfers Digital Currency to Lender and Lender transfers said Digital Currency back to Borrower pursuant to this section.
(c) Lender’s Right to New Tokens
Genesis will receive the benefit and ownership of any incremental tokens generated as a result of a Hard Fork in the Digital Currency protocol or an Applicable Airdrop (the “New Tokens”) if any two of the following four conditions are met:
- Hash Power: the average hash power mining the New Token on the 30th day following the occurrence of the Hard Fork or Applicable Airdrop (calculated as a 30-day average on such date) is at least 5% of the hash power mining the Loaned Assets on the day preceding the Hard Fork or Applicable Airdrop (calculated as a 3-day average of the 3 days preceding the Hard Fork).
- Market Capitalization: the average market capitalization of the New Token (defined as the total value of all New Tokens) on the 30th day following the occurrence the Hard Fork or Applicable Airdrop (calculated as a 30-day average on such date) is at least 5% of the average market capitalization of the Loaned Assets (defined as the total value of the Loaned Assets) (calculated as a 30-day average on such date).
- 24-Hour Trading Volume: the average 24-hour trading volume of the New Token on the 30th day following the occurrence the Hard Fork or Applicable Airdrop (calculated as a 30-day average on such date) is at least 1% of the average 24-hour trading volume of the Loaned Assets (calculated as a 30-day average on such date).
- Wallet Compatibility: the New Token is supported by either BitGo wallets or Ledger wallets within 30 days of the Hard Fork or Applicable Airdrop.
For the above calculations, the source for the relevant data on the Digital Currency hash power, market capitalization, and 24-Hour trading volume will be blockchain.info (or, if blockchain.info does not provide the required information, bitinfocharts.com, and if neither provides the required information, the parties shall discuss in good faith to mutually agree upon another data source) and the source for the hash power of the New Token will be bitinfocharts.com (or, if bitinfocharts.com does not provide the required information, the parties shall discuss in good faith to mutually agree upon another data source prior to the 30-day mark of the creation of the New Token).
If the Hard Fork or Applicable Airdrop meets the criteria above, Borrower will have up to 60 days from the Hard Fork or Applicable Airdrop to transfer the New Tokens to Genesis. If sending the New Tokens to Genesis is burdensome, upon Lender’s written agreement with Borrower, Borrower can reimburse Genesis for the value of the New Tokens by either (i) a one-time payment in the same Loaned Assets transferred as a part of the Loan reflecting the amount of the New Tokens owed using the spot rate determined by Lender in its reasonable discretion at the time of said repayment, or (ii) returning the borrowed Digital Currency so that Genesis can manage the split of the underlying digital tokens as described in Section IV(b) above. Alternatively, subject to Lender’s written agreement, the parties may agree to other methods of making Lender whole for Borrower’s failure to transfer New Tokens to Lender. In all cases, Borrower will be solely responsible for payment of additional costs incurred by any transfer method other than returning the New Tokens to Lender, including but not limited to technical costs, third party fees, and tax obligations for the transaction, including but not limited to a tax gross-up payment. For the avoidance of doubt, if Borrower returns a Loan to Lender prior to the 30th day following a Hard Fork, Borrower’s obligations under this Section V shall continue for any New Tokens that meet the criteria in this subsection (c) for such Loan on the 30th day following the Hard Fork. Lender’s rights to New Tokens as set forth in this Section shall survive the termination of the relevant Loan, return of the Loaned Assets, and termination of this Agreement. If Borrower fails to transfer the New Tokens to Lender, or provide alternative compensation to Genesis as agreed to in accordance with this subsection, within 60 days from the Hard Fork or Applicable Airdrop, such failure will be considered an Event of Default in accordance with Section VIII(b), and Borrower shall incur an additional fee (the “Hard Fork Fee”) equal to 10% (annualized, calculated daily) of all outstanding portions of the Loaded Digital Currencies and Loan Fees. Lender’s charging of the Hard Fork Fee does not constitute a waiver of its right to declare an Event of Default for the same event.
Disclaimer: In general, FTX.us will take what it believes to be the reasonable course of action in the case of forks and similar events. There may be unforeseen circumstances that occur; in that case, FTX.us reserves the final right of determination but will endeavor to communicate clearly and promptly. All times mentioned here are approximate and may depend on the relevant block times. This policy is subject to change.
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