How to Split and Transfer BCH and BSV Using Electron Cash Wallet

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The Bitcoin Cash (BCH) network underwent a major hard fork in November 2018, resulting in the creation of a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin SV (BSV). While exchanges handled the split automatically for users who held BCH on their platforms, those who stored BCH in personal wallets were left to manage the separation themselves.

If you held BCH in a private wallet before the fork, you now own an equal amount of both BCH and BSV. However, due to technical differences and replay vulnerabilities, transferring BSV requires careful handling. This guide walks you through the process of safely splitting and transferring your BSV using the Electron Cash wallet—a trusted, lightweight desktop solution designed specifically for BCH and compatible with BSV.

Why Use Electron Cash for BSV Transfer?

Electron Cash is one of the few wallets that supports manual network switching, making it ideal for managing post-fork assets like BSV. Unlike most mainstream wallets that either ignore or incompletely support BSV, Electron Cash allows users to switch between the BCH and BSV blockchain networks seamlessly.

Key features include:

👉 Discover how to securely manage split cryptocurrencies with a trusted wallet tool.

Step-by-Step Guide: Splitting BCH and BSV

1. Download and Install Electron Cash

Visit the official website to download the latest version of Electron Cash:
https://www.electroncash.org

Ensure you're downloading from the authentic source to avoid malware. After installation, launch the application and restore your existing BCH wallet using your seed phrase or private key.

🔐 Security Tip: Never enter your recovery seed or private keys on untrusted devices or websites.

Once imported, your wallet will sync with the BCH network by default, showing your full BCH balance.

2. Understand the Interface

The Electron Cash interface is intuitive:

In the bottom-right corner, four icons provide quick access to:

3. Switch to the BSV Network

This is the core step for accessing your BSV.

  1. Click the green Network icon (shaped like a chain link with a fork).
  2. A window will display active network branches.
  3. Look for the branch starting with 114076 — this is the BSV chain.
  4. Right-click on it and select "Follow this branch".
  5. The client will now connect to the Bitcoin SV blockchain.

To return to BCH operations later, repeat the process and choose the branch starting with 4626ff.

4. Perform Coin Separation (Critical!)

Since BCH and BSV lack replay protection, every transaction broadcast on one chain may be duplicated on the other. To prevent accidental loss, you must break the symmetry between your holdings.

Here’s how:

Step A: Send a Small Amount of BCH to Yourself

  1. Ensure you’re on the BCH network (4626ff branch).

  2. Use the Send tab to transfer a slightly reduced amount of BCH to your own address.

    • Example: If you have 10.515 BCH/BSV, send 10.514 BCH to yourself.
  3. Wait for confirmation (typically within 10 minutes).

Step B: Switch to BSV and Repeat

  1. Switch to the BSV network (114076 branch).
  2. Send a different amount—e.g., 10.513 BSV—to the same address.
  3. Confirm the transaction on the BSV chain.

Now, each chain has a unique transaction history. Your UTXOs are no longer identical, effectively preventing replay attacks.

5. Verify Successful Split

Go to the Coins tab and inspect your unspent outputs:

Check the History tab on both networks:

If all checks pass, your coins are safely split.

👉 Learn how secure wallets help protect your digital assets during blockchain forks.

Transferring BSV to an Exchange

Once separated:

  1. Stay on the BSV network in Electron Cash.
  2. Go to Send, enter your exchange’s BSV deposit address.

  3. Double-check:

    • You're still connected to the correct network
    • The receiving address supports BSV (some use segregated addresses)
  4. Confirm transaction details and broadcast.

Wait for sufficient confirmations (usually 3–6) before considering the transfer complete.

⚠️ Warning: Never send funds until you’ve verified successful splitting. Sending before separation risks losing funds on both chains.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I use Electron Cash for both BCH and BSV permanently?

A: Yes, Electron Cash supports both networks via manual switching. However, always verify which chain you're operating on before sending funds.

Q: What happens if I don’t split my coins before transferring?

A: Without splitting, a transaction on one chain can be replayed on the other, potentially draining funds from both networks simultaneously.

Q: Are there any mobile wallets that support BSV transfers?

A: Some mobile wallets now support BSV natively, but for precise control over chain selection, desktop tools like Electron Cash remain more reliable.

Q: Is Electron Cash safe from hacking?

A: The wallet itself does not store your keys online. As long as you keep your seed phrase offline and avoid phishing sites, it's considered secure.

Q: Why does Electron Cash show two different network branches?

A: After a hard fork, nodes diverge into competing chains. Electron Cash lets users manually follow either chain—essential when dealing with contentious splits like BCH/BSV.

Q: Can I recover BSV if I already sent BCH after the fork?

A: Possibly—if you controlled both private keys at the time of sending. However, if funds were sent to an exchange that doesn’t support BSV, recovery may not be possible.

👉 Explore best practices for managing multiple cryptocurrencies after a blockchain split.

Final Thoughts

Managing assets after a blockchain fork demands caution and technical awareness. While automated solutions exist today, understanding manual processes like those in Electron Cash empowers users to take full control of their crypto holdings.

By following this guide, you’ve learned how to:

Whether you're recovering old forked coins or preparing for future network splits, mastering tools like Electron Cash ensures you stay in command of your digital wealth.

Always prioritize security: verify software sources, double-check network status, and never rush transactions involving significant value.