Latest Ethereum Classic (ETC) News Update

Deep Dive

1. Devconnect Focuses on Privacy (26 November 2025)

Overview: Ethereum Classic’s developer community gathered in Buenos Aires for Devconnect, emphasizing privacy innovations like Aztec’s shielded transactions and Railgun’s balance encryption. Vitalik Buterin highlighted Ethereum Classic’s shift toward “ossification” (reducing disruptive upgrades) and called transparency a “bug disguised as a feature.” Attendees ignored ETC’s 30% monthly price drop, focusing instead on Argentina’s grassroots crypto adoption for financial stability.
What this means: Neutral for ETC – developer activity remains robust, but real-world utility (e.g., stablecoins for inflation hedging) may not directly boost ETC’s demand. (Yahoo Finance)

2. Toobit Launches ETC Staking (21 November 2025)

Overview: Toobit introduced a Flexible Earning product for ETC, offering 0.35% APR with no lock-up period. The pool allows instant withdrawals (up to 100,000 USDT/day) and has a 34,900 ETC capacity.
What this means: Mildly bullish – improves ETC’s yield utility but the low APR (vs. DeFi alternatives) may limit adoption. Metrics to watch: pool utilization rate and ETC’s exchange reserves. (Toobit)

3. Grayscale IPO Includes ETC Trust (18 November 2025)

Overview: Grayscale filed for a NYSE IPO, listing its $157M Ethereum Classic Trust (ETCG) alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum products. ETCG shares trade at a 32% discount to NAV ($7.61 vs. $11.24) as of 18 November.
What this means: Bullish long-term – public listing could attract TradFi capital, but ETCG’s discount reflects weak institutional appetite compared to ETH/BTC products. (Yahoo Finance)

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic’s narrative balances developer-driven privacy tech with incremental financialization (staking, institutional products). However, ETC’s -33% 90D price drop underscores a disconnect between ecosystem activity and market sentiment. Will protocol-level upgrades like the 2026 Olympia DAO governance shift revive investor confidence?

Deep Dive

1. @Nicat_eth: ETC’s PoW Identity at Crossroads bearish

“ETC faces structural pressure: miner loyalty offsets dead ecosystem, but Solana/Near overshadow relevance. Key support at $12.50 pivotal.”
– @Nicat_eth (7.5K followers · 58K impressions · 1 Dec 2025 8:53 PM UTC)
View original post
What this means: This is bearish for ETC because declining developer activity and competition from faster L1 chains threaten its long-term utility despite miner support. The $12.82 price cited (now $13.51) shows persistent downside pressure.

2. @Crypt0_DeFi: ETC Grants DAO Doubles Down on PoW bullish

“BITMAIN/ANTPOOL’s $10M commitment signals faith in ETC’s ‘Code is Law’ ethos. Target: 10 ETC = 1 ETH valuation.”
– @Crypt0_DeFi (29.8K followers · 51K impressions · 4 Sep 2025 6:52 PM UTC)
View original post
What this means: This is bullish for ETC as institutional mining giants backing ecosystem grants could drive developer adoption. However, ETC currently trades at 0.0037 ETH ($13.51 vs ETH’s $3,602), far from the 1:10 target.

3. @nizacoin: Ethereum Fork Rift Persists neutral

“ETH’s PoS evolution vs ETC’s PoW purity: 9 years post-DAO hack, the philosophical divide remains core to both chains’ identities.”
– @nizacoin (38.4K followers · 12K impressions · 18 Nov 2025 5:56 PM UTC)
View original post
What this means: Neutral for ETC – while differentiation from ETH provides niche appeal, it hasn’t translated to proportional market share (ETC’s $2.09B cap vs ETH’s $432B).

Conclusion

The consensus on ETC is mixed, balancing ideological purity against fading ecosystem momentum. While miners and institutions like BITMAIN reinforce its PoW value proposition, ETC’s 64% annual price drop and shrinking developer activity signal existential risks. Watch the $12.50 support level – a sustained break could trigger miner capitulation, while holding may revive “OG Ethereum” narratives.

Deep Dive

1. DAO Governance & Treasury (Q4 2026)

Overview: Introduces decentralized decision-making for funding projects, replacing centralized grant models.

Four ECIPs form this upgrade:
- ECIP-1111: Redirects 80% of EIP-1559 base fees to a treasury (vs ETH’s burn mechanism).
- ECIP-1112: Creates an unstoppable smart contract to hold treasury funds.
- ECIP-1113: Enables ETC holders to vote on proposals via weighted staking.
- ECIP-1114: Formalizes proposal submission/review processes.

What this means: This is bullish for ETC because it creates sustainable development funding while letting the community prioritize upgrades – reducing reliance on external entities like ETC Cooperative.

(Ethereum Classic DAO)

2. EIP-1559 Activation (Testnet Live)

Overview: Implements variable gas fees with partial redirection to the treasury.

Unlike Ethereum’s 100% burn, ETC burns 20% of base fees and sends 80% to the DAO treasury. Early Mordor testnet data shows ~$2.8M annual treasury inflows at current prices.

What this means: Neutral short-term (no supply shock like ETH), but bullish long-term by creating a revenue stream for network improvements.

(CoinMarketCap Analysis)

3. Immutable Contract Upgrades (2026)

Overview: Post-deployment, core contracts (treasury, DAO) become unmodifiable.

Uses Ethereum Classic’s signature “Code is Law” approach – no admin keys or upgradeability. Changes require new ECIPs and hard forks.

What this means: Bearish for rapid iteration (slower updates) but bullish for predictability/security – aligns with ETC’s anti-censorship ethos.

Conclusion

The Olympia Upgrade positions ETC as a PoW chain with Ethereum-style governance, blending decentralization with sustainable funding. With testnets live and mainnet activation slated for late 2026, watch for developer migration and proposal activity.

Can Ethereum Classic’s “Code is Law” philosophy coexist with modern DAO governance demands?

Deep Dive

1. Olympia Upgrade (End of 2026)

Overview: The Olympia Upgrade introduces four ECIPs to decentralize funding and governance. Key features include EIP-1559 fee burns (redirecting 80% of base fees to a treasury), an immutable DAO contract, and permissionless funding proposals. Testnet deployment begins in 2026, with mainnet activation targeted by year-end.
What this means: Bullish for ETC’s sustainability, as it creates a self-funded ecosystem and aligns incentives for holders. Risks include potential delays in decentralized decision-making.

2. EVM Object Format (EOF) Adoption (2026)

Overview: Part of the ETC Cooperative’s 2024 pathway, EOF enables backward-incompatible EVM upgrades while preserving “Code is Law.” This would harmonize ETC with Ethereum’s EVM standards, easing developer onboarding.
What this means: Neutral-to-bullish, as compatibility could attract Ethereum developers, but adoption depends on community consensus and competing priorities like Verkle Trees.

3. Erigon Client Integration (No Date)

Overview: Proposed by contributor Istora Mandiri, replacing Core Geth with Erigon aims to reduce hardware requirements for node operators, potentially decentralizing participation.
What this means: Bullish for network resilience and miner diversity, though implementation lacks a clear timeline.

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic’s roadmap focuses on enhancing decentralization through governance (Olympia) and technical parity (EOF), while its commitment to Proof of Work and immutability remains non-negotiable. The lack of a centralized roadmap introduces execution risks but aligns with its ethos. With the Olympia DAO poised to reshape funding dynamics by 2026, will community-driven governance unlock ETC’s next growth phase?