Differentiating Ethereum (ETH) and Ethereum Classic (ETC)
In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies, two coins have stood out as significant players: Ethereum (ETH) and Ethereum Classic (ETC). Although both are associated with the Ethereum technology, they have distinct differences in their supply, consensus mechanism, and current market price.
Supply
Ethereum Classic (ETC) adheres to a capped supply, similar to Bitcoin's monetary policy. This approach aims for an algorithmic, mechanical, and fixed supply model, with the circulating supply constrained to avoid inflation. On the other hand, Ethereum (ETH) does not have a hard cap on supply, but network upgrades and the transition to proof-of-stake have effectively limited its inflation, making the supply growth much lower than before.
Consensus Mechanism
Ethereum Classic (ETC) continues to utilize Proof of Work (PoW), preserving the original Ethereum consensus mechanism through mining. This method secures the network using computational work, ensuring code immutability. Ethereum (ETH), however, has transitioned from PoW to Proof of Stake (PoS) in 2022, moving to an energy-efficient consensus mechanism where validators stake ETH to secure the network instead of miners using hardware.
Current Market Price
As of August 2025, Ethereum (ETH) is trading at approximately $3,776 USD, reflecting its broader adoption, technological development, and backing from major enterprises. Ethereum Classic (ETC), on the other hand, is priced around $20.03 USD, with recent modest price increases and lower transaction fees.
These differences highlight that Ethereum Classic (ETC) focuses on immutability and staying true to the original blockchain protocol with PoW and a capped supply, while Ethereum (ETH) has evolved technologically and economically with PoS consensus and dynamic supply management, supported by extensive industry adoption. The choice between the two coins ultimately depends on an investor's preference for immutability, energy efficiency, or broader adoption and technological development.
[1] Ethereum Classic website: https://ethereumclassic.org/ [2] Ethereum website: https://ethereum.org/ [3] Ethereum Whitepaper: https://ethereum.org/en/whitepaper/ [4] CoinMarketCap: https://coinmarketcap.com/ [5] CoinGecko: https://www.coingecko.com/
Investing in the realm of cryptocurrencies presents a choice between two Ethereum-related coins, each with unique characteristics. Ethereum Classic (ETC), for instance, employs a capped supply like Bitcoin and maintains the original Proof of Work consensus mechanism, focusing on immutability. On the other hand, Ethereum (ETH) has transitioned to Proof of Stake, boasts a dynamic supply model, and has secured significant industry backing, reflecting its technological development and broader adoption. As of August 2025, ETH is trading at approximately $3,776 USD, while ETC is priced around $20.03 USD.
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