What could affect the price of ETC?

Ethereum Classic’s price depends on upcoming protocol upgrades, the ongoing relevance of its Proof-of-Work (PoW) system, and overall market mood.

1. Olympia Upgrade (2026) – Introducing fee burns and decentralized governance, which could boost value.
2. Proof-of-Work Role – Appeals to those favoring energy-secure blockchains but faces regulatory challenges.
3. Market Sentiment – Changes in investor fear and greed, along with altcoin trading activity, create mixed effects.

In-Depth Look

1. Olympia Upgrade & DAO Governance (Positive Outlook)

What’s happening: The Olympia Upgrade, planned for late 2026, will implement a system similar to Ethereum’s EIP-1559. This means 80% of transaction fees will be burned (removed from circulation) and funds will be directed to a community-controlled treasury through on-chain governance.

Why it matters: Burning fees reduces the total supply of Ethereum Classic (ETC), which can increase its value over time—this has worked well for Ethereum (ETH) after its own fee burn upgrade. Giving the community control over funds encourages developers to build and improve the network. However, since this upgrade won’t start testing until 2026, excitement might fade before the benefits are seen.

2. Proof-of-Work vs. Regulatory Environment (Mixed Outlook)

What’s happening: ETC continues to use Proof-of-Work, a method that requires energy to secure the network. This appeals to users who prefer decentralized systems, especially after Ethereum switched to Proof-of-Stake (PoS). ETC’s price jumped 28% on November 7, 2025, reflecting renewed interest in PoW chains as resilient alternatives.

Why it matters: While PoW supports decentralization, it also consumes more energy, which could attract stricter regulations focused on environmental impact, like the EU’s MiCA rules. This could limit ETC’s appeal to institutional investors concerned about sustainability.

3. Altcoin Liquidity & Market Sentiment (Neutral Outlook)

What’s happening: Ethereum Classic’s trading volume shows moderate liquidity, meaning it can be more sensitive to market ups and downs. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index was at 29/100 on November 10, 2025, indicating cautious investor sentiment, yet ETC still gained 10% that week, suggesting some speculative buying.

Why it matters: When investors are optimistic (“greedy”), ETC can rise alongside other altcoins. But because trading volume isn’t very high, price drops can be sharper during sell-offs. Data shows a 27% monthly drop in derivatives open interest, meaning less leveraged trading, which might help reduce extreme price swings in the short term.

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic’s future depends heavily on successfully rolling out the 2026 Olympia Upgrade to reduce supply and improve governance. At the same time, its reliance on Proof-of-Work faces regulatory uncertainty, and fluctuating altcoin market conditions add complexity. Keep an eye on ETC’s fee burn stats after Olympia and shifts in Bitcoin’s market dominance for clues on where ETC might head. The big question remains: can Ethereum Classic build a lasting role beyond being known as the original Ethereum?

What are people saying about ETC?

The Ethereum Classic (ETC) community is carefully weighing short-term doubts against strong long-term belief. Here’s what’s making headlines:

1. Traders are debating price levels between $19 and $28 amid mixed signals from charts.
2. The Olympia Upgrade is driving optimism about making the network more decentralized at the protocol level.
3. The “Code is Law” principle is gaining support, especially compared to Ethereum’s shift to Proof of Stake (PoS).
4. Experts disagree on 2025 price targets, with estimates ranging from a low of $26 to a high of $55.

Deep Dive

1. @johnmorganFL: Possible drop below $20.25

“ETC forms descending triangle – breakdown to $19.62 possible if bears hold $20 resistance.”
– @johnmorganFL (35.2K followers · 12.7K impressions · 2025-08-01 11:30 UTC)
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What this means: Short-term outlook is bearish as ETC struggles to stay above $20.25. Traders are watching $19.62 as the next support level if prices fall.

2. @EthClassicDAO: Olympia Upgrade focuses on on-chain governance

“Draft ECIPs released: EIP-1559 fee burns + DAO governance aim for decentralized funding by late 2026.”
– @EthClassicDAO (2.6K followers · 2.1K impressions · 2025-07-01 22:51 UTC)
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What this means: This upgrade could be a game-changer by introducing fee burns and decentralized governance, which may reduce supply and encourage more developer involvement over time.

3. @Crypt0_DeFi: “Code is Law” idea resurfaces

“ETC refused to reverse DAO hack – proving blockchain immutability > convenience.”
– @Crypt0_DeFi (30.9K followers · 9.8K impressions · 2025-09-09 07:00 UTC)
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What this means: This stance highlights ETC’s commitment to immutability, appealing to those who value strict decentralization, though it may limit flexibility compared to Ethereum’s approach.

4. OKX News: Price predictions for 2025 vary widely

“ETC could hit $55 if adoption accelerates post-Olympia, but risk $26 if upgrades stall.”
– OKX News (August 13, 2025)
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What this means: There’s a big gap between optimistic and pessimistic forecasts, reflecting uncertainty about how well the upgrades will be implemented and the ongoing relevance of Proof of Work (PoW).

Conclusion

Opinions on Ethereum Classic are mixed. Many are optimistic about its strong principles and the potential of the Olympia Upgrade, while others are cautious due to short-term technical challenges and adoption risks. Traders are watching the $16–$25 price range closely, but the real focus is on the progress toward the Olympia mainnet launch expected in late 2026. This milestone could solidify ETC’s role as the unchangeable alternative to Ethereum.

What is the latest news about ETC?

Ethereum Classic is gaining momentum thanks to a mix of positive market trends and important upgrades. Here’s a quick summary of the latest news:

1. Rise in Proof-of-Work Interest (Nov 7, 2025) – ETC jumped nearly 29% as investors looked for alternatives to proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchains.
2. HTX Launches ETC Borrowing Rewards (Nov 10, 2025) – HTX offers triple rewards on ETC loans to encourage more trading activity.
3. Olympia Upgrade Advances (July 1, 2025) – New governance features are being tested to give ETC users more control over the network.

Deep Dive

1. Rise in Proof-of-Work Interest (Nov 7, 2025)

What happened:
On November 7, Ethereum Classic’s price jumped 28.9%, outperforming Ethereum. This was driven by traders shifting their focus to proof-of-work (PoW) cryptocurrencies, which use a mining process similar to Bitcoin. Daily trading volume for ETC reached about $150 million, fueled by analysts highlighting ETC’s combination of PoW security and smart contract functionality.

Why it matters:
This is a positive sign for ETC because it benefits from growing doubts about PoS networks, which are more energy-efficient but often more centralized. Still, concerns remain about PoW’s high energy use and competition from increasing demand for AI computing power. (Yahoo Finance)

2. HTX Launches ETC Borrowing Rewards (Nov 10, 2025)

What happened:
HTX introduced a campaign called “Earn as You Borrow” running from November 7 to 14. It offers up to 50% discounts on fees and interest rebates for ETC loans, mainly targeting high-tier users. The goal is to boost liquidity and trading activity during volatile market conditions.

Why it matters:
This move could help increase ETC’s liquidity, which is generally good for the market. However, similar promotions in the past have mostly caused short-term spikes in trading volume without long-lasting price gains. (HTX)

3. Olympia Upgrade Advances (July 1, 2025)

What happened:
The Olympia Upgrade started testing in July, introducing features like EIP-1559-style fee burning and on-chain decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) governance. The full upgrade is expected to launch on the main network by late 2026.

Why it matters:
This upgrade is a big step toward making Ethereum Classic more sustainable by decentralizing its funding and decision-making. It reduces reliance on corporate sponsors and gives the community more control. However, delays in launching the upgrade could slow ETC’s progress compared to faster-moving blockchains. (Ethereum Classic DAO)

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic’s recent price gains and new lending incentives show renewed interest in its proof-of-work approach. Meanwhile, the Olympia Upgrade is setting the stage for a more self-sufficient and community-driven network. The big question remains: will ETC’s energy-heavy mining model stay attractive as AI and other technologies increase global demand for computing power?

What is expected in the development of ETC?

Ethereum Classic (ETC) is moving forward with important upgrades while keeping its development decentralized:

1. Olympia Upgrade (End of 2026) – Adds DAO governance, burns transaction fees, and creates an on-chain treasury.
2. Continued EVM Compatibility – Uses improvements from other blockchains to stay up-to-date.
3. Miner Migration Opportunities – Gains miners leaving Ethereum after its switch to Proof-of-Stake.

Deep Dive

1. Olympia Upgrade (End of 2026)

Overview: The Olympia Upgrade, proposed through Ethereum Classic Improvement Proposals (ECIPs), plans to introduce a system similar to Ethereum’s EIP-1559 fee burning. This means 80% of the base transaction fees will be sent to a treasury fund. It also brings on-chain governance through a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) and a decentralized funding process (ECFP). Testing on test networks is expected by late 2025, with the full upgrade launching on the main network by late 2026.

What this means:

• Positive: The fee burning reduces the total supply over time, which can increase value. The treasury supports ongoing development and ecosystem projects.
• Risks: DAO governance depends on active participation. If only a few large holders vote, it could lead to centralization.

2. EVM Compatibility & Layer 2 Integration

Overview: Ethereum Classic remains compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), the software that runs smart contracts on Ethereum. This compatibility allows ETC to adopt new technologies like Optimistic Rollups—Layer 2 solutions that improve transaction speed and reduce costs—without having to develop them from scratch (Future Classic).

What this means:

• Neutral: ETC benefits from proven upgrades but may fall behind blockchains that innovate faster.
• Positive: Layer 2 solutions can make ETC more scalable and attractive to developers who find Ethereum’s fees too high.

3. Miner Migration & Network Security

Overview: Ethereum recently switched from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS), which means miners using GPUs are no longer needed on Ethereum. Many of these miners may switch to Ethereum Classic, which still uses PoW. This could increase ETC’s mining power (hash rate) and strengthen network security (CoinMarketCap Analysis).

What this means:

• Positive: A higher hash rate makes it harder for attackers to take control of the network, boosting investor confidence.
• Caution: The long-term success of PoW depends on how it competes with energy regulations and newer technologies.

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic’s roadmap carefully balances decentralized governance with strategic upgrades like Olympia. These changes aim to improve the network’s usefulness while staying true to its core principle: "Code is Law." The next year will be crucial in seeing if ETC can attract new miners and successfully adopt innovations from the broader Ethereum ecosystem. Could the Olympia upgrade spark a new wave of developer activity on ETC? Time will tell.

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What updates are there in the ETC code base?

Ethereum Classic’s biggest upcoming update is the Olympia Upgrade, which will introduce new ways to fund the project, let the community govern decisions, and change how transaction fees work using EIP-1559.

1. Olympia Upgrade Drafts (July 2025) – Adds an on-chain treasury and community voting through a DAO.
2. EVM Standard Compliance (2023–2024) – Keeps Ethereum Classic compatible with Ethereum’s smart contract technology updates.

Deep Dive

1. Olympia Upgrade Drafts (July 2025)

Overview: The Olympia Upgrade, made up of four Ethereum Classic Improvement Proposals (ECIPs), aims to make funding and governance more decentralized. It will redirect 80% of transaction fees to a community-controlled treasury and allow ETC holders to vote on how funds are used and on protocol changes.

Details:

• ECIP-1111: Activates EIP-1559, which burns 20% of transaction fees and sends 80% to the treasury.
• ECIP-1112: Sets up a permanent treasury contract to manage funds transparently.
• ECIP-1113: Creates an on-chain Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) for governance.
• ECIP-1114: Defines how anyone can propose funding projects through a permissionless process.

Why it matters: This upgrade is positive for Ethereum Classic because it solves funding issues, lowers inflation by burning fees, and gives the community more control over the project’s future. Testing is planned for late 2025, with full rollout expected by late 2026.
(Source)

2. EVM Standard Compliance (2023–2024)

Overview: Ethereum Classic continues to stay compatible with Ethereum’s smart contract platform (EVM) while keeping its Proof-of-Work security intact.

Details:
Recent upgrades like Magneto (2021) and Mystique (2022) brought ETC in line with Ethereum’s Berlin and London updates. Developers are working on the EVM Object Format (EOF) upgrade for 2024, which will make smart contracts more efficient and secure.

Why it matters: This is neutral for ETC. Staying compatible helps developers use familiar tools, but ETC avoids big changes to keep the network stable and secure, focusing on immutability rather than fast innovation.

Conclusion

The Olympia Upgrade represents a major step toward sustainable, community-led growth for Ethereum Classic. At the same time, ETC’s careful approach to updating its smart contract platform balances modernization with preserving decentralization. As other blockchains become more centralized, ETC’s commitment to “Code Is Law” may attract developers looking for censorship-resistant infrastructure.