Build once. Build right. Stop.
A complete Bitcoin implementation in pure C—built for permanence, not continued development. Upon completion and audit, the codebase freezes. No version 2.0. No roadmap beyond completion.
Bitcoin Echo is a faithful implementation of the Bitcoin protocol—designed to freeze forever. The rules are stable. Why shouldn't the software be?
- ✅ Cryptographic primitives — SHA-256, RIPEMD-160, secp256k1, Schnorr signatures
- ✅ Consensus engine — Full transaction & block validation (SegWit, Taproot)
- ✅ Storage layer — UTXO database, block storage, chain state management
- ✅ Protocol layer — P2P networking, mempool, transaction relay
- ✅ Application layer — JSON-RPC server, observer mode
- ✅ Live GUI — Real-time visualization of Bitcoin network activity
- 🔨 In development — Mining interface, full node mode
Comprehensive test coverage | ~20,000 lines of C | Zero dependencies
- 🌐 Website: bitcoinecho.org
- 📄 Whitepaper: Technical Specification
- 📜 Manifesto: Why Permanence Matters
- 🐦 X/Twitter: @bitcoinechoorg
- 💰 Funding: Support the Mission
Watch Bitcoin mainnet live, right now (macOS/Linux):
# Clone and build the node
git clone https://github.com/bitcoinecho/bitcoin-echo
cd bitcoin-echo && make
./echo --observeYour terminal will show live connection logs as the node connects to Bitcoin peers. Press Ctrl+C to stop.
In another terminal:
# Clone and run the web interface
git clone https://github.com/bitcoinecho/bitcoinecho-gui
cd bitcoinecho-gui && npm install && npm run dev
# Visit http://localhost:5173If you prefer the node to run silently in the background:
./echo --observe > /dev/null 2>&1 &To stop the background process:
pkill -f "echo --observe"Note: Windows support is in active development. Current instructions are for macOS and Linux.
| Repo | Description |
|---|---|
| bitcoin-echo | Core C implementation (the ossified artifact) |
| bitcoinecho-gui | Web interface (can evolve) |
| bitcoinecho-org | Website, docs, whitepaper, roadmap |
| .github | Organization profile (this page!) |
The rules are stable. The software is not.
Bitcoin's consensus rules haven't changed since 2008. But the software implementing them never stops changing. Every update is a risk. Every refactor is a chance for divergence.
What if we built software the way Bitcoin builds its chain? Append-only. Immutable. Final.
Build once. Build right. Stop.
