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The Original Ethereum
Virtual Machine

The Leading Smart Contract Platform secured by Proof-of-Work

Ethereum Classic is immutable infrastructure for global finance. The only mature Proof-of-Work blockchain with native smart contracts — permissionless, censorship-resistant, and secured by dedicated mining infrastructure operating continuously since 2015.

Overview

Ethereum Classic Network

Live network and market data from Blockscout and CoinGecko.

$0.00

ETC Price

+0.00% (24h)

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Market Cap

0

Total Transactions

2015

Network Origin

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Market Capitalization

Rank ~#55 by market cap

0

Total Addresses

All-time unique addresses on Ethereum Classic

0

Total Blocks

Blocks produced since genesis (2015)

~13s

Block Time

Average time between blocks

Network

Genesis DateJuly 30, 2015
ConsensusProof-of-Work (ETChash)
Chain ID61 (mainnet)
Total Blocks0
Total Transactions0
Total Addresses0
Average Block Time~13s
Network Hashrate200+ TH/s

Economics

ETC Price$0.00
24h Change+0.00%
Market Cap$0.00
Market Cap Rank~#55
24h Volume
Circulating Supply~156.2M ETC
Max Supply210.7M ETC
All-Time High$167.09 (Apr 2021)

Network Architecture

The Only Proof-of-Work EVM

Ethereum Classic is not simply a Proof-of-Work network or simply a smart contract platform. It sits at the intersection of both, inheriting the commodity classification path that Bitcoin established and the programmable finance frameworks that Ethereum established. Bitcoin has PoW without programmability. Ethereum has the EVM without PoW. ETC has both, and its regulatory surface is additive, not exclusive. In a regulatory landscape that forces most networks to pick a lane, ETC occupies two, not by design after the fact, but by continuous, uninterrupted operation since 2015.

From Proof-of-Work

Bitcoin's regulatory trajectory

  • No pre-mine, no foundation controlling the protocol, no issuer.

  • Mining hardware is globally distributed and permissionless to acquire.

  • Block rewards and tips go to miners — the treasury is funded by basefee, not inflation.

  • CLARITY Act digital commodity classification path: same PoW profile as Bitcoin.

  • Energy demand that co-locates with any power source, anywhere in the world.

From the EVM

Ethereum's regulatory trajectory

  • Full Solidity and EVM compatibility — every Ethereum tool, library, and framework works without modification.

  • Classic USD ($USC) by Brale: a live, 1:1 USD-backed stablecoin on a PoW chain — a first.

  • GENIUS Act-compliant stablecoin infrastructure, the first on any Proof-of-Work network.

  • ETCswap V2 and V3 provide on-chain liquidity for composable DeFi with a regulated stable base.

  • MiCA decentralized asset classification: exempt from ART/EMT issuer obligations.

Regulatory Position

Global Regulatory Clarity

Ethereum Classic's proof-of-work consensus and decentralized structure position it favorably across every major regulatory framework — by design, not by accident.

Pending Senate

United States

CLARITY Act

Digital Commodity

Signed Jul 18, 2025

United States

GENIUS Act

Stablecoin Platform

In Force Dec 2024

European Union

MiCA

Decentralized Asset

Congressional Resolution

United States

Mined in America

Domestic Mining Policy

Japan

FSA Green List

JVCEA · Fast-track listing on all regulated Japanese exchanges

United Kingdom

FSMA Recognized

Digital asset framework · Effective Oct 2027

Canada

CIRO Registered

CSA + FINTRAC MSB framework · 2023–present

South Korea

FSC/FSS Listed

Virtual asset framework · 2024–present

Australia

AFSL Compliant

Digital asset services license framework · 2025–present

Brazil

BCB Regulated

Crypto asset regulation · 2023–present

United Arab Emirates

VARA Compliant

Virtual asset regulation · In force Jun 2025

Singapore

MAS Licensed

Digital payment token framework · 2024–present

Hong Kong

SFC Recognized

Virtual asset trading platform regime · 2024

Switzerland

FINMA Compliant

DLT Act · Crypto-forward regulatory environment

Turkey

CMB Listed

Capital Markets Law 2024 · FATF exit 2024

South Africa

CASP Registered

Crypto asset service provider framework · 2025

Ethereum Classic inherits two distinct regulatory trajectories: the commodity classification path that Proof-of-Work networks established, and the programmable finance frameworks being built around smart contract platforms. Its regulatory surface is additive — digital commodity candidate under the CLARITY Act, decentralized asset under MiCA, and the only Proof-of-Work EVM with a live GENIUS Act-aligned stablecoin.

Exchanges listing ETC require asset classification clarity. Custodians settling ETC transactions require settlement finality guarantees. Investment product issuers require commodity status. ETF sponsors require CFTC commodity futures markets and SEC classification clarity for spot product approval. Corporate treasuries require auditable reserve proof and accounting treatment clarity before holding digital assets on balance sheet. Banks offering custody require prudential capital treatment under Basel III crypto asset rules, which depend directly on commodity classification. Regulated stablecoin issuers require an immutable, neutral settlement rail. dApp and DeFi protocol developers require an unmodifiable EVM execution layer as a credible neutrality guarantee. Miners and hardware manufacturers require protocol stability, a fixed monetary policy, no proof-of-stake transition risk, and asset acceptance in their operating jurisdictions — the regulatory foundation that permits continued capital allocation without shutdown risk.

Governments adopting digital assets face a distinct requirement set. Sovereign wealth funds and central bank reserves require commodity-classified assets with auditable, proven security models. National digital finance strategies require settlement rails that cannot be censored or modified by external parties. Public infrastructure mandates require open-source, permissionless networks with no controlling entity. Ethereum Classic satisfies each condition through its proof-of-work consensus, fixed monetary policy, and unbroken immutability record since 2015.

Network Development

Upcoming Protocol Events

Two milestones are approaching on Ethereum Classic: the next protocol upgrade continuing parity with the greater EVM ecosystem, and a scheduled block reward reduction defined by the network's fixed emission schedule.

Block Reward Reduction

Era → Era Fifthing

Ethereum Classic reduces its block reward by 20% every 5 million blocks — an event called a "fifthing." The next reduction takes place at block under ECIP-1017.

  • Block reward: ETC ETC (−20%)

  • Fixed monetary policy — no governance vote, no override, enforced at the protocol level

  • Raises stock-to-flow ratio, reducing annual inflation toward Bitcoin-tier scarcity

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* Estimated based on current average block time of ~13s

Network Upgrade

Olympia Protocol Upgrade

The next Ethereum Classic hard fork — EVM modernization, EIP-1559 fee market, and a protocol treasury funded by basefee revenue without touching miner rewards.

  • Fusaka EVM alignment: full Ethereum tooling, library, and framework parity

  • EIP-1559 fee market: predictable gas pricing, basefee revenue directed to protocol treasury

  • Protocol treasury: sustainable development funding without new token issuance or miner reward changes

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* Countdown is set to January 1, 2027 until the ETC mainnet activation block is set

Activation Block Pending

Olympia is in final testing on the Mordor Testnet. Activation Block: TBD

The exact block number will be announced after the Olympia Upgrade core developers call.

Ecosystem

Explore Ethereum Classic

Ethereum Classic has a complete, globally accessible ecosystem covering every layer — retail wallets, institutional custody, regulated investment products, DeFi apps, mining infrastructure, and developer tooling. A decade of uninterrupted operation makes it the most mature Proof-of-Work smart contract platform in existence. Select a section to go directly to what you're looking for.

News

Protocol Updates

Coverage of the Ethereum Classic protocol spans core client development, critical network infrastructure, and the security model that has protected the chain through a decade of uninterrupted operation. As adoption expands across institutional, regulatory, and developer communities worldwide, this section tracks the technical milestones and governance decisions that shape the network's trajectory.

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