When destroyed, even with a pickaxe, ender chests break into 8 obsidian blocks.

Intended behavior, a Silk Touch pickaxe is required to reobtain an Ender Chest.

Dude this isn't a glitch it is purposeful, you have to use a tool with silk touch to make it break normally.

Hey Nathan, I just wanted to say thank you personally for all the work you guys have been doing at Mojang and to keep up the awesome work.
By the way, and I think I speak for many people, the updates you guys have been delivering are absolutely exquisite, thank you!

Jakob Ingeman.