Why won’t you support [insert new fork name here]?
Since we’re getting inundated with queries about many proposed Bitcoin forks, we’d first like to repeat that our number one priority is keeping our customers’ money —local and digital currency— safe. Many forks come with various
security risks, which could result in the loss of funds.
Secondly, we have a vision (and a responsibility) to make it safe and easy to buy, sell and learn about Bitcoin. Most of these Bitcoin fork proposals don’t add significant value to the ecosystem and generally just adds complexity and confusion to the market. The opposite of easy.
These are distractions that unnecessarily complicate the industry and divert limited resources, such as:
Engineering resources needed to add the ability to buy, sell, send, receive and store the new tokens
Internal processes in storing and securing the tokens in hot and cold wallets etc.
Design resources, adding more complexity to products
Community support resources needed in helping customers use, understand and fix issues related to each new token
Lastly, there are
thousands of alternatives to Bitcoin, known as altcoins. Many of the proposed Bitcoin forks ultimately create just another altcoin with low or no value. Customers who want access to any of those new altcoin chains should move their Bitcoin to a compatible platform. We can’t make any recommendations for these third-party platforms, but please do your research about the security of the new chain and stay clear from
fraudsters.
Note that you don’t “double your money” during a fork. Just because you have some newly forked tokens, doesn’t necessarily mean that they will have any value, now or in the future.
Fork policy
If a new fork is announced, we will observe its market adoption and provide a level of support accordingly.
For example, in the case of Bitcoin Cash (BCH), there was significant interest from the community. It was listed on multiple reputable exchanges, and the price traded above 0.1 BTC for months. We, therefore, provided the ability to withdraw or sell BCH.
However, if there is a fork that isn’t embraced by a significant subset of the community, and is not listed by reputable exchanges, we won’t provide support for it. Our goal is always to ensure that customers don’t lose value associated with their funds.