Bitcoin Cash
Cryptocurrency
1 Year Change
↑11.32%
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Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

BCH/ZAR: Convert Bitcoin Cash (BCH) to South African Rand (ZAR)

Bitcoin Cash is a decentralised cryptocurrency that operates on a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Bitcoin Cash was "forked" from Bitcoin (BTC) in 2017 due to a division over the protocol's future. To address concerns over scalability, Bitcoin Cash seeks to add more transaction capacity to its network than Bitcoin in order to be useful for everyday transactions.

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Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Price

BCH Last Price
R5452.78
BCH 1y Return
↑11.32%
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BCH
ZAR
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Pricing data is provided by Altify and excludes fees. Visit our Pricing page for more information on all fees and charges.

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Returns

As of December 12, 2023 11:00 PM GMT+2

24 hours

↑11.32%

1 month

↑11.32%

3 months

↑11.32%

6 months

↑11.32%

1 year

↑11.32%

Since Inception*

↑11.32%
* The Bitcoin Cash (BCH)  inception date was 22 November 2018.

About Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

What Is Bitcoin Cash (BCH)?

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is a cryptocurrency created as an alternative to Bitcoin (BTC), the original and most widely traded cryptocurrency.

Launched in 2017, Bitcoin Cash emerged from a split within the Bitcoin community. A group of users, dissatisfied with the direction set by Bitcoin's main developers (Bitcoin Core), believed that different technical changes were necessary for Bitcoin to achieve global adoption.

Supporters of Bitcoin Cash argued that Bitcoin needed improvements to compete with traditional payment systems like Visa and PayPal. They advocated for reducing transaction fees by shifting costs to other areas of the network.

To pursue these changes, Bitcoin Cash introduced new software that altered Bitcoin’s code, making the two systems incompatible. This resulted in a split, creating two separate blockchains (Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash) and two distinct assets (BTC and BCH). At the time of the split, Bitcoin holders received an equivalent amount of Bitcoin Cash.

Since then, Bitcoin Cash has continued to evolve, increasing its block size to 32 MB to handle more transaction data per block. Additionally, it has adopted features from other cryptocurrencies, including the ability to create new types of tokens on its blockchain.

The History of Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

Bitcoin Cash was launched in 2017 as an alternative to Bitcoin, following a split within the Bitcoin community over how to address scaling issues and the SegWit upgrade. A group of users proposed increasing the block size limit through a hard fork, which ultimately led to the creation of Bitcoin Cash. However, many Bitcoin developers and users opposed this approach due to a key trade-off: while larger blocks can handle more transactions and reduce fees, they also make the blockchain harder to validate and store across thousands of computers globally—compromising Bitcoin's decentralised nature, which prevents any single entity from altering its blockchain.

Since its creation, Bitcoin Cash has encountered its own challenges, including a hard fork in November 2018, which resulted in the formation of a new cryptocurrency called Bitcoin SV (BSV).

What’s the Difference Between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash?

Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash differ significantly in their design philosophy.

Bitcoin Cash developers prioritise consumer payments, believing that widespread usage for everyday transactions will boost BCH's value in the short term. As a result, Bitcoin Cash is often considered more suitable for online spending.

The key feature of Bitcoin Cash is its larger block size, allowing more transactions to be processed with each block added to the blockchain. This reduces the need for high fees used on Bitcoin during periods of heavy network demand.

However, the larger blocks come with trade-offs. Downloading and storing a full copy of the Bitcoin Cash blockchain can be more expensive and challenging due to its increased size.

Bitcoin Cash users may also need to update their software more frequently, as its developers implement upgrades and changes at a faster pace. This rapid development approach increases the risk that some changes may be rejected by the network, as seen when Bitcoin Cash split into two separate networks, Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin SV.

How Does Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Work?

Bitcoin Cash uses a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, just like Bitcoin. In this system, miners solve complex computational problems to validate transactions and add new blocks to the blockchain. Thanks to its larger block size, Bitcoin Cash can process transactions more quickly than Bitcoin. It also supports smart contracts and a variety of ecosystem apps, enhancing its utility beyond simple payments. With a total supply capped at 21 million coins and a circulating supply of 19.56 million as of November 2023, Bitcoin Cash maintains a limited supply. Its focus is on facilitating fast, low-cost transactions, typically costing less than a tenth of a cent.

What Gives Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Value?

Proponents of Bitcoin Cash believe that by focusing on reducing transaction costs, it will become the preferred choice for consumers making online purchases, ultimately increasing BCH's value.

Like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash retains key properties such as scarcity. It follows the same principle of limiting total supply to 21 million BCH, with the amount of new BCH introduced to the network gradually decreasing over time in events called halvings.

By the end of 2019, approximately 18.1 million BCH were in circulation, with 12.5 BCH introduced per block. In 2020, this amount decreased to 6.25 BCH per block.

Given its similarities to Bitcoin, traders may view Bitcoin Cash as a potential hedge, helping mitigate risks if Bitcoin’s development path restricts its adoption or impacts its long-term value.

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BCH markets

Explore popular BCH trading pairs on Altify. You can swap BCH for FIAT and stablecoins.

BCH to USD
BCH to GBP
BCH to EUR
BCH to ZAR
BCH to USDC
BCH to USDT
USD to BCH
GBP to BCH
EUR to BCH
ZAR to BCH
USDC to BCH
USDT to BCH

Crypto Risk Disclosure

High Volatility and Risk of Loss

Investing in crypto assets involves significant risk, and may result in the loss of capital. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and may experience sudden and substantial fluctuations in value. As such, there is a possibility that you may receive an amount less than your original investment or experience a complete loss of your initial investment's value.

Remember past performance doesn’t guarantee future results and we can’t guarantee returns since asset prices move based on supply and demand, so never trade with funds you can’t afford to lose.

Altify does not provide investment advice or recommendations. As an investor, you are responsible to make decisions regarding your investments. You should seek professional advice if you're uncertain about the suitability or appropriateness of any investment for your specific circumstances or needs.

Lack of Regulation and Protections

While the cryptocurrency industry is gradually becoming more regulated, it remains largely unregulated. As a result, your holdings are not protected by any government-backed insurance scheme or financial services compensation scheme. In the event of a loss, theft, or cyber attack, there is no guarantee that you will be able to recover your funds.

Irreversibility of Transactions

Crypto transactions are irreversible. Sending funds to an incorrect address or falling victim to fraudulent activities may result in the permanent loss of your assets. Ensure all transaction details are correct before proceeding.

Market Liquidity and Accessibility

Under certain market conditions, it may be difficult or impossible to liquidate a position quickly at a reasonable price. The value of your crypto assets is driven by market demand, which can fluctuate and potentially result in a total loss of value.

Tax and Legal Considerations

Investing in cryptocurrencies may result in tax liabilities. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with your local tax laws and regulations. Cryptocurrencies may also be subject to changes in legislation that could affect their use, value, and legality.

Further information can be found in the General Risk Disclosures and Crypto Risk Disclosures on our website. Investments should only be made by investors who understand these risks.