What is Ethereum Classic?
The original Ethereum chain that refused to undo a hack.
Ethereum Classic (ETC) is the original Ethereum blockchain that continued after the 2016 "DAO" hack, when most of the community chose to rewrite history to return stolen funds. Those who refused kept the unaltered chain. Today ETC is a separate, much smaller network that still uses proof-of-work mining.
Why it split
In 2016, an investment fund built as a smart contract, called The DAO, was exploited and about 3.6 million ETH was drained. To return the money, most of the Ethereum community adopted a "hard fork" in July 2016 that moved the funds back. A minority argued that "code is law" and the blockchain should never be rewritten. They kept running the original chain, which became Ethereum Classic.
ETC vs. ETH today
| Compare | Ethereum (ETH) | Ethereum Classic (ETC) |
|---|---|---|
| Consensus | Proof of stake since 2022 | Proof of work (mining) |
| Supply | No fixed maximum | Capped at about 210.7 million |
| Size | Second-largest crypto network | Far smaller in value and activity |
| Interchangeable? | No. They're separate networks and separate coins. | |
Risks
Smaller proof-of-work networks are cheaper to attack. Ethereum Classic suffered several "51% attacks" in 2019 and 2020, in which attackers rewrote recent blocks to double-spend. See proof of work.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ethereum Classic the same as Ethereum?
No. They share history up to 2016 but are separate networks with separate coins.
Can I mine Ethereum Classic?
Yes. Unlike Ethereum, ETC still uses proof-of-work mining.
Where to next
Sources
Written for beginners and checked against the sources listed. Last reviewed October 26, 2026. This page is educational and is not financial, tax or legal advice. How we write and check pages.