What is expected in the development of ETC?

Ethereum Classic’s development is driven by its community, focusing on decentralization and long-term sustainability.

1. Olympia Upgrade (End of 2026) – Introduces decentralized governance and a treasury funded by the protocol.
2. Layer 2 Scaling Integration (2026–2027) – Uses Optimistic Rollups to improve scalability.
3. Decentralized Funding via ECIPs (Ongoing) – An open proposal system for ongoing upgrades.

Deep Dive

1. Olympia Upgrade (End of 2026)

Overview: The Olympia Upgrade, detailed in ECIP-1111 to ECIP-1114, aims to create on-chain governance and a self-sustaining treasury. Key features include:

• EIP-1559 fee reform: Burns 20% of base transaction fees, which reduces the total supply over time.
• Olympia DAO: Enables $ETC holders to vote on funding proposals through a decentralized treasury.
• Testnet: Launched on Mordor in July 2025, with mainnet activation planned for late 2026.

What this means: This upgrade is positive for Ethereum Classic because it tackles long-standing funding challenges and gives the community more control over development. However, there could be delays if voters don’t reach consensus or participate actively.

2. Layer 2 Scaling Integration (2026–2027)

Overview: Ethereum Classic plans to adopt Optimistic Rollups, a technology that processes transactions off the main blockchain to increase speed and reduce costs, while still settling on the ETC network. This is possible because ETC is compatible with Ethereum’s Virtual Machine (EVM).

What this means: This is somewhat positive, as Layer 2 solutions can attract decentralized finance (DeFi) projects looking for lower fees and faster transactions. Still, Ethereum Classic’s smaller developer community compared to Ethereum might slow down this rollout.

3. Decentralized Funding via ECIPs (Ongoing)

Overview: Instead of a fixed roadmap, Ethereum Classic uses the ECIP process — an open system where anyone can propose upgrades. Recent proposals include:

• Standardizing block size to an 8 million gas limit.
• Fixes to maintain backward compatibility and prevent smart contract failures during upgrades.

What this means: This approach aligns with Ethereum Classic’s principle of “Code is Law,” emphasizing decentralization and stability. However, it may lead to slower innovation compared to projects with centralized planning.

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic’s roadmap emphasizes decentralization, with the Olympia Upgrade and Layer 2 scaling as key upcoming developments. Its open governance model supports resilience but depends heavily on community agreement and advances in Ethereum-compatible technology. By sticking to Proof-of-Work and its core principles, Ethereum Classic may carve out a unique position as a niche, secure alternative in a crypto world increasingly dominated by staking-based networks.

What updates are there in the ETC code base?

Ethereum Classic focuses on keeping its protocol stable while staying compatible with Ethereum’s standards.

1. Olympia Upgrade Proposal (July 2025) – Plans to introduce a new fee system (EIP-1559) and on-chain community governance through a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO).
2. EVM EOF Compatibility (2024) – Updates that improve smart contract efficiency by aligning with Ethereum’s latest technology.
3. Security-First Approach – Careful, conservative updates designed to reduce security risks.

Deep Dive

1. Olympia Upgrade Proposal (July 2025)

Overview: The draft proposals ECIP-1111 to ECIP-1114 aim to create Ethereum Classic’s first protocol-level treasury and governance system. This system would use fees collected from transactions (based on EIP-1559) to fund development projects chosen by the community.

Key features include:

• ECIP-1111: Burns half of the transaction fees and sends the other half to a permanent treasury contract.
• ECIP-1113: Enables $ETC holders to vote on how treasury funds are spent through on-chain DAO governance.
• ECIP-1114: Establishes a clear process for submitting and approving funding proposals.

What this means: This upgrade is positive for Ethereum Classic because it decentralizes funding decisions, reduces dependence on outside grants, and encourages long-term growth. However, it’s planned for late 2026, so it will require thorough testing before launch.
(Source)

2. EVM EOF Compatibility (First Half of 2024)

Overview: Ethereum Classic adopted Ethereum’s EVM Object Format (EOF) upgrades to stay compatible with Ethereum’s virtual machine standards, which helps smart contracts run more efficiently.

Important changes include:

• EIP-3860: Limits and meters initialization code to prevent misuse of resources.
• EIP-3540: Simplifies contract code validation.
• EIP-5450: Improves stack validation for safer contract execution.

What this means: This update keeps Ethereum Classic compatible with Ethereum’s tools and standards but doesn’t add major new features. The focus is on maintaining stability rather than pushing innovation.
(Source)

3. Security-First Development Philosophy

Overview: Ethereum Classic prioritizes security by limiting changes to its codebase and carefully adopting Ethereum upgrades only after thorough review.

Recent examples:

• Mystique Upgrade (2022): Brought in Ethereum’s London hard fork features, including EIP-1559.
• No Proof-of-Stake Transition: Stuck with Proof-of-Work to avoid risks related to centralization.

What this means: This approach strengthens Ethereum Classic’s reputation as a secure and unchangeable blockchain. However, slower innovation might make it less attractive compared to faster-moving competitors.

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic is evolving cautiously, balancing compatibility with Ethereum and a strong commitment to decentralization. The upcoming Olympia Upgrade’s DAO governance could transform how the community drives development, while the focus on stability aims to make ETC a reliable, “finished” blockchain. The big question is whether this new funding model will attract enough developers to compete with Ethereum’s larger ecosystem.

What could affect the price of ETC?

Ethereum Classic (ETC) is at a crossroads with upcoming upgrades and ongoing security challenges.

1. Olympia Upgrade (2026) – Introduces fee burning and decentralized governance
2. 51% Attack Risks – Past attacks raise concerns about network security
3. Regulatory Changes – UK crypto ETNs improve access, but Tether delistings reduce liquidity

Deep Dive

1. Protocol-Level Funding Reform (Positive Outlook)

What’s happening:
The Olympia Upgrade, planned for late 2026, will implement a system similar to Ethereum’s EIP-1559. This means a portion of transaction fees will be permanently removed (“burned”), reducing the total supply of ETC. Additionally, 80% of these fees will go into a decentralized treasury managed by the community through a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) (ECIP-1111).

Why it matters:
By reducing the supply growth, this upgrade could help counteract ETC’s current 17% yearly inflation. The new treasury will fund development projects, encouraging more developers to build on ETC. This could help ETC compete better with Ethereum and other Layer 2 solutions, which have historically attracted more investment.

2. Ongoing Security Concerns (Negative Outlook)

What’s happening:
Ethereum Classic experienced three major 51% attacks in 2020, where attackers were able to double-spend $5.6 million. While attacking Bitcoin would cost around $6 billion due to its large network, ETC’s smaller network remains vulnerable (Crypto.News).

Why it matters:
The lower cost to attack ETC makes it riskier for miners and investors. Mining profits are thinner on ETC compared to Bitcoin ($239 million daily volume vs. Bitcoin’s $72 billion), increasing the chance of network disruptions. This risk has led to threats of exchange delistings in the past, such as OKEx’s warning in 2020.

3. Regulatory and Market Changes (Mixed Impact)

What’s happening:
In October 2025, the UK approved Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs) for ETC, allowing retail investors to hold ETC tax-free in retirement accounts like pensions and ISAs. On the downside, Tether stopped supporting ETC on five blockchains in August, which reduces how easily ETC can be used across different platforms (Bitget).

Why it matters:
The new ETNs could increase demand by making ETC more accessible to everyday investors. However, Tether’s move may reduce liquidity and increase trading costs. Over the past 90 days, ETC’s price dropped 27%, underperforming Bitcoin (-13%) and Ethereum (-7%), as investors shift away from riskier proof-of-work coins.

Conclusion

The 2026 Olympia Upgrade could significantly improve Ethereum Classic’s value by reducing supply and funding development. However, ongoing security risks and the declining popularity of proof-of-work blockchains present challenges. Keep an eye on the Mordor testnet’s Olympia rollout and hashrate trends—if governance activates successfully and hashrate grows by more than 20%, ETC might be on a path to recovery. The big question remains: can ETC’s “Code Is Law” philosophy help it stand out from Ethereum’s changing regulatory landscape?

What are people saying about ETC?

Ethereum Classic’s community stays committed to its core values, while traders focus on important price levels. Here’s what’s happening:

1. Technical indicators suggest potential further price drops.
2. Long-term forecasts predict prices between $55 and $158 by 2030.
3. The “Code Is Law” philosophy drives ongoing debates.

In-Depth Look

1. @johnmorganFL: $55 Price Target by 2025 — Optimistic

“Ethereum Classic (ETC) Price Prediction 2025, 2026-2030”
– @johnmorganFL (12.4K followers · 18.7K impressions · 2025-07-20 12:12 UTC)
View original post
What this means: Positive outlook comes from ETC’s upcoming Olympia Upgrade, which includes fee-burning features that reduce supply, and plans for decentralized governance in 2026. If more people start using ETC, analysts believe it could reach $55 by 2025.

2. CoinMarketCap: Bearish Signals Below $20 — Cautious

“ETC Breaks Support – Bearish Continuation Ahead?”
– Technical analysis points to a descending triangle pattern with a target near $19.62, compared to the current price of $16.31.
View original post
What this means: Price struggles to stay above $20.25, showing weakening momentum. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is between 26 and 56, indicating the coin is oversold but hasn’t yet shown signs of bouncing back.

3. @Crypt0_DeFi: “Code Is Law” Philosophy — Neutral

“ETC stands out for protecting freedom and neutrality”
– Emphasizes ETC’s commitment to immutability after the DAO hack and its use of Proof-of-Work to maintain decentralization.
– @Crypt0_DeFi (8.2K followers · 14.3K impressions · 2025-09-04 18:52 UTC)
View original post
What this means: While this philosophy appeals to supporters, it hasn’t led to short-term price gains. In fact, ETC’s price has dropped 27% over the past 60 days.

Conclusion

Opinions on Ethereum Classic are mixed. Technical charts suggest caution, but long-term upgrades and strong community beliefs provide hope. Traders are watching the $15.78 support level from May 2025, while developers prepare for the 2026 Olympia DAO launch. Ultimately, ETC’s success depends on overall market trends and how well it can promote its “unstoppable code” identity compared to competitors.

What is the latest news about ETC?

Ethereum Classic (ETC) is making strides with new regulatory support and ecosystem growth, even as concerns about its security linger. Here are the key updates:

1. UK Opens Tax-Free ETC Access (October 9, 2025) – Retail investors can now hold ETC in tax-advantaged accounts like pensions and ISAs through regulated exchange-traded notes (ETNs).
2. HTX Offers Zero-Interest ETC Loans (September 24, 2025) – Investors can borrow ETC at 0% interest for trading or liquidity needs.
3. ETC Expands in Hong Kong (September 15, 2025) – With support from major mining companies, ETC is promoting its Proof of Work model and offering $10 million in grants to grow in Asia.

Deep Dive

1. UK Opens Tax-Free ETC Access (October 9, 2025)

What happened: The UK government lifted its ban on crypto ETNs, allowing retail investors to buy ETC-backed ETNs on platforms like the London Stock Exchange. These ETNs can be held tax-free in Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and pensions, making ETC more accessible to everyday investors.

Why it matters: This is a positive sign for ETC, showing growing acceptance by traditional financial systems. However, some major ISA providers have yet to offer ETC ETNs, so immediate impact on trading volume may be limited. Over time, the tax benefits could encourage more long-term investment in ETC (CoinDesk).

2. HTX Offers Zero-Interest ETC Loans (September 24, 2025)

What happened: HTX (formerly Huobi) introduced zero-interest loans for borrowing ETC on trades of $5,000 or more. This move is part of a campaign responding to recent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. HTX also offers low-interest loans (1% annually) for larger ETC liquidity needs until the end of October.

Why it matters: This could increase short-term trading activity by making it cheaper to borrow ETC. However, it also raises the risk of increased price swings if traders quickly sell off borrowed ETC. Current trading volume for ETC is below average, indicating demand for these loans is still modest (Decrypt).

3. ETC Expands in Hong Kong (September 15, 2025)

What happened: The Ethereum Classic Grants DAO (EGD) announced a push into Hong Kong, emphasizing ETC’s “Code is Law” philosophy and its Proof of Work consensus method. Supported by mining giants BITMAIN and ANTPOOL, EGD is launching a $10 million grant fund to attract developers and projects in Asia, especially as Hong Kong rolls out new Web3 regulations.

Why it matters: This expansion could boost ETC’s long-term growth by attracting developers in a region with clear crypto rules. However, ETC faces strong competition from other blockchains like Ethereum and Solana in decentralized finance (DeFi). The DAO’s ambitious goal to increase ETC’s value relative to Ethereum remains uncertain, as ETC currently trades at about 0.0075 ETH (Crypt0_DeFi).

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic is making progress with regulatory acceptance and ecosystem development, but it still needs to overcome its reputation for security risks, especially the threat of 51% attacks. Tax benefits in the UK and growth in Asia could help stabilize ETC’s $2.5 billion market cap. Keep an eye on developer activity following the upcoming Olympia Upgrade mainnet launch in 2026 to see if ETC can strengthen its position.

Why did the price of ETC fall?

Ethereum Classic (ETC) dropped 3.63% in the last 24 hours, performing worse than the overall crypto market, which fell by 3.16%. The main reasons include negative technical signals, less liquidity after Tether pulled out, and ongoing worries about network security.

1. Technical Breakdown – Bearish signs like “death crosses” and broken support levels led to selling pressure.
2. Tether’s Exit – Tether (USDT) stopped supporting ETC’s blockchain, reducing liquidity and usage.
3. Market Sentiment – Investors are moving from altcoins like ETC to Bitcoin and cash due to cautious market conditions.

Deep Dive

1. Technical Breakdown (Bearish Impact)

Overview: ETC’s price fell below an important level at $17.29 and also dropped past the 50% Fibonacci retracement level at $16.17, confirming a downward trend. The 7-day simple moving average (SMA) at $17.36 crossed below the 30-day SMA at $19.02, creating a “death cross,” which is a well-known bearish signal.

What this means: These technical signals likely triggered automatic selling by trading algorithms and stop-loss orders, making the price drop worse. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 44.37, which means ETC isn’t oversold yet, so the price could still fall further.

Watch: If ETC stays below $16.17, it might drop to the next support level at $14.77.

2. Tether’s Withdrawal from ETC Chain (Bearish Impact)

Overview: On August 30, 2025, Tether stopped supporting USDT on the Ethereum Classic blockchain to simplify its operations. This removed a key source of stablecoin liquidity from ETC’s network.

What this means: This change reduces ETC’s usefulness in decentralized finance (DeFi) and cross-chain transactions, lowering demand for ETC as a “gas” token used to pay transaction fees. Since the announcement, daily active users and transaction volumes on ETC have dropped by 18%.

Watch: Look for whether other stablecoins like USDC start being used on ETC’s blockchain to help bring back liquidity.

3. Broader Risk-Off Crypto Sentiment (Mixed Impact)

Overview: The total cryptocurrency market value fell 3.16% in 24 hours, while Bitcoin’s market share rose to 58.8%. The Altcoin Season Index dropped 34.55% over the week, showing that investors are moving money away from smaller coins like ETC.

What this means: ETC’s weaker performance fits with a trend where traders are playing it safe by shifting funds into Bitcoin and stablecoins amid economic uncertainty, such as potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

Conclusion

ETC’s recent price drop is due to a combination of negative technical signals, less on-chain activity after Tether’s exit, and a general move away from riskier crypto assets. While ETC’s Proof-of-Work security model keeps some loyal supporters, short-term challenges are weighing on the coin.

Key watch: Can ETC hold the $16.17 support level? If it falls below this, selling could speed up. But if it climbs back above $17.29, that might signal a recovery. Also, keep an eye on Bitcoin’s price — if BTC bounces back, it could help stabilize altcoins like ETC.