Ethereum Classic is a Smart Contract Network

Ethereum Classic is an open-source, decentralised blockchain-based computing platform designed to run smart contracts without third-party interference. Ethereum Classic is a distributed network including a blockchain ledger, a native cryptocurrency called ETC and an ecosystem of on-chain applications and services. Ethereum Classic was created as a result of a hack of Ethereum in 2016.

What is Ethereum Classic?

“The DAO hack” gives birth to the Ethereum Classic. The DAO, a venture fund on Ethereum blockchain, managed to raise up to $150 million in Ether in an initial coin offering in April 2016. An attacker exploited a loophole in one of the DAO’s smart contracts which turned out that funds worth $50 million were stolen. A rift emerged in the community on how to settle the issue. 

One camp was loyal to the idea that the blockchain should never be changed which means every transaction, even the exploit cannot be erased. The other camp took drastic action in the name of protecting the investors. The argument led to a hard fork and the legacy chain that did not reverse its transaction was rebranded as Ethereum Classic, using ETC and the newer network was named Ethereum, using ETH or Ether.

Scalability and security

Both Ethereum and Ethereum Classic provide smart contracts and apparently compete in the same market. Ethereum has won popularity and is seen as the more legitimate one between the two networks. Now ETH is second to Bitcoin as the most valuable cryptocurrency in the world. 

Scalability is a concern. The Ethereum Classic network can process 15 transactions every second and it is less competitive than its potential competitors like Visa.

Since Ethereum Classic has been hacked and stolen millions of funds, smart contract security remains an haunting issue especially for financial and real estate transactions. Over the years, investors gradually lost confidence in ETC because of hacks. To achieve Ethereum Classic’s goal, becoming a global payment network with smart contracts that function without centralized governance, it needs to further upgrade the code and software.

Differences between Ethereum and Ethereum Classic

Ethereum Classic decided to follow Bitcoin by having a maximum supply of coins at about 210 million. However, Ethereum does not have a hard limit to the amount of coins to be mined.

A more drastic difference will be witnessed as the Ethereum network will soon move from a proof-of-work consensus mechanism to proof-of-stake algorithm or Ethereum 2.0.