What is XBT? Bitcoin BLAKE2b explained in five minutes

XBT, also called Bitcoin BLAKE2b or BTCB2, is a fork of Bitcoin. It shares Bitcoin's full history up to August 2026, keeps the same 21 million cap and halving schedule, and swaps Bitcoin's mining algorithm for a new one. If you held bitcoin before the split, you already have XBT.

Where it came from

XBT came out of a grassroots node movement during the fight over BIP-110 and data spam on Bitcoin. At block 961,632, on Aug 8, 2026, nodes running the new rules began following a chain mined with BLAKE2b instead of SHA-256. The SHA-256 miners kept mining Bitcoin, and the two chains have been separate since.

Most XBT nodes run Bitcoin Knots with BLAKE2b support. There is no company behind it.

What's the same as Bitcoin

• History: every block and transaction up to 961,631.
• Supply: 21 million cap, 3.125 per block today, next halving at block 1,050,000.
• Addresses and keys: same formats. A bitcoin address that held coins on Aug 8 holds the same amount of XBT.
• Units: 100 million sats per coin.

What's different

• Mining: BLAKE2b instead of SHA-256, so Bitcoin's ASICs can't mine it. BLAKE2b machines can, including home-sized units. See miners.
• Coinbase lock: a soft fork keeps rewards mined in blocks 973,440 to 979,920 locked for about 45 days. They start unlocking around the end of October. Live countdown.
• Replay protection: opt-in. Wallets that sign with XBT's new flag are safe; plain bitcoin signatures can be copied between chains. Explained here.
• Wallets: normal bitcoin wallets can't see XBT. Use Shrike, the Sparrow BLAKE2b build or a Knots BLAKE2b node.

Where it trades

Trading started Sept 1, 2026. Most volume runs on NeoxEX (USDC, USDT and BTC pairs) and NonKYC. It isn't on Coinbase, Kraken or Binance (why not). The all-time high so far is $1,799. Live price on the xbt.live homepage.

Your first three steps

1. Check if you have XBT: paste a bitcoin address you held on Aug 8 into our address checker.
2. See it in a wallet: Shrike plus an Electrum server, watch-only.
3. Read before you move anything: how to claim and sell XBT safely.

Live XBT price and statsXBT glossary

Not financial advice.