1. Ethereum and Ethereum Classic Originated as a Single Proof-of-Work Chain
Bitcoin (BTC) was originally designed to enable smart contracts within its Proof-of-Work (PoW) environment. In 2013, Vitalik Buterin proposed integrating smart contracts into PoW blockchains—a feat impossible on Bitcoin due to its technical design. This vision gave birth to Ethereum (ETH), launched in 2015 after a crowdfunded development effort.
Initially, there was no distinction between Ethereum and Ethereum Classic (ETC). The community united under a single PoW smart contract blockchain.
Key Takeaways:
- Bitcoin’s PoW couldn’t support smart contracts.
- Ethereum emerged as the first programmable PoW blockchain.
2. The Split: Ethereum vs. Ethereum Classic
In 2016, a hack targeting the dApp "The DAO" divided the ETH community. While ETH opted to reverse the hack, a minority faction preserved the original, unaltered chain—now known as Ethereum Classic (ETC).
Common Misconception:
- ETH is often mistaken as the original chain, but ETC maintained the immutable PoW ledger.
👉 Explore ETC’s unbroken chain history
3. Code Is Law vs. Social Consensus
Post-split, ETC and ETH adopted opposing philosophies:
- ETC: "Code Is Law" — Immutability above all.
- ETH: "Social Consensus" — Community-driven reversals.
Why It Matters:
Blockchains should resolve disputes off-chain (via legal systems), not through protocol alterations.
4. Proof-of-Stake: Debunking the "Save Trees" Argument
Vitalik Buterin advocated for Proof-of-Stake (PoS) in 2016, citing:
- Environmental concerns (PoW’s energy use).
- Symmetric attacker-defender ratios.
Reality Check:
- PoW’s transparency deters attacks (e.g., double-spending).
- PoW accelerates renewable energy adoption (study).
5. PoS Fails at Scalability
ETH claimed PoS would enable "thousands of transactions per second (TPS)." Post-transition, ETH processes only 20–30 TPS—no improvement over PoW.
Key Insight:
PoS’s promised scalability remains unfulfilled.
6. Ethereum’s Transition to Proof-of-Stake
In September 2022, ETH migrated to PoS, driven by:
- Abstract goals (e.g., "eco-friendly" branding).
- Reduced ETH issuance.
Result:
ETH joined other programmable PoS chains, sacrificing decentralization.
7. Ethereum Classic Rises as the Largest PoW Smart Contract Chain
Post-ETH transition, ETC’s hash rate surged from 20 TH/s to 166 TH/s, cementing its status as the largest PoW smart contract blockchain.
Why ETC Wins:
- Decentralization: PoW resists centralization.
- Security: Immutable and trust-minimized.
8. ETC Hosts the World’s Most Secure Applications
ETC’s unparalleled security stems from:
- Fixed monetary policy.
- Full replicability and composability.
- Global decentralization.
FAQ Section
Why is ETC more secure than ETH?
ETC’s PoW design ensures higher decentralization and immutability, reducing attack vectors.
Did ETC fork from ETH?
No. ETH forked from ETC to reverse transactions, violating blockchain principles.
Can PoW blockchains scale effectively?
Yes—through layer-2 solutions and optimizations, without sacrificing security.
Final Note:
Ethereum Classic’s adherence to PoW and immutability positions it as the future of decentralized applications.