Ethereum Classic

    Ethereum Classicetc#57

    By Twin · CoinHours Editorial · Coin profile maintained by CoinHours Editorial · Market data refreshes every 60s

    $7.16

    +0.88% (24h)

    7d Change

    -4.29%

    30d Change

    -21.55%

    24h High

    $7.20

    24h Low

    $7.07

    Market Cap$1.14B
    24h Volume$21.61M
    Circulating Supply158.9M ETC
    Max Supply210.7M
    All-Time High$103.31
    ATH Change-93.06%

    Price Chart

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    About Ethereum Classic

    Ethereum Classic emerged from a 2016 blockchain split following the DAO hack, representing the original Ethereum chain that refused to reverse transactions. The network maintains proof-of-work consensus while Ethereum transitioned to proof-of-stake, positioning itself as an immutable smart contract platform. ETC has faced multiple 51% attacks over the years, raising ongoing security concerns despite maintaining a dedicated community committed to its "code is law" philosophy.

    Primary use case: Proof-of-work smart contract platform emphasizing transaction immutability and censorship resistance

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    Understanding Ethereum Classic Price Data

    The Ethereum Classic price shown above is a volume-weighted average across major spot exchanges, sourced from CoinGecko and refreshed continuously throughout the trading day. Cryptocurrency markets trade twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week — there is no opening or closing bell — so the 24-hour change figure is a rolling window measured against the price exactly one day prior, not against a fixed daily close. The 7-day and 30-day percentage moves use the same rolling-window methodology, which means the figures shift continuously rather than resetting at midnight.

    Market capitalisation for Ethereum Classic is calculated by multiplying the current price by the circulating supply — the number of ETC units currently in public hands and not locked, burned, or reserved by the protocol. This differs from total supply (all units that have ever been created) and max supply (the protocol-defined cap, where one exists). For assets with significant locked or vesting allocations, fully diluted valuation can be a more useful long-term measure than market cap alone. The 24-hour trading volume figure aggregates spot trading across reporting exchanges and excludes derivatives and over-the-counter activity, which can be substantially larger for major assets.

    All-time high (ATH) figures reflect the peak USD price ever recorded for Ethereum Classic on a major exchange. The ATH change percentage shows how far the current price sits below — or above — that peak, and is one of several inputs the CoinHours Market Cycle Indicator uses when assessing where the broader market sits in its four-year halving cycle. For longer-term investors, ATH drawdown combined with 200-week moving average position and the Fear & Greed Index gives a clearer cycle picture than any single metric in isolation.

    Ethereum Classic for Australian Investors

    In Australia, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) treats Ethereum Classic and other cryptocurrencies as capital gains tax (CGT) assets rather than as currency. Every disposal — selling for AUD, swapping for another crypto, spending on goods or services, or gifting — is a CGT event that must be reported in your tax return. Holding ETC for more than twelve months before disposing of it qualifies you for the 50% individual CGT discount, which is one of the most significant tax planning levers for long-term holders. See the crypto tax encyclopedia entry for a full breakdown of ATO record-keeping requirements, cost-base calculation methods, and the tax treatment of staking rewards, airdrops, and DeFi income.

    Australian investors typically buy Ethereum Classic through a registered exchange that complies with AUSTRAC anti-money-laundering requirements. Once acquired, holdings can be left on the exchange (counterparty risk), moved to a software wallet (convenience with online attack surface), or transferred to a hardware wallet for cold-storage self-custody (highest security, least convenient). The CoinHours security guide walks through the trade-offs in detail, including seed-phrase storage, multi-signature setups, and inheritance planning. For background on the underlying technology, the Crypto Encyclopedia covers blockchain fundamentals, consensus mechanisms, and the Ethereum Classic protocol in plain English.

    Ethereum Classic FAQ

    What caused the Ethereum Classic split from Ethereum?

    The split occurred in 2016 following the DAO hack, where attackers exploited smart contract vulnerabilities to drain funds. While most of the Ethereum community supported a hard fork to reverse these transactions, a minority believed in maintaining blockchain immutability and continued operating the original chain as Ethereum Classic.

    How does Ethereum Classic differ from Ethereum today?

    Ethereum Classic maintains proof-of-work mining consensus using the ETCHash algorithm, while Ethereum transitioned to proof-of-stake in 2022. ETC emphasises transaction immutability and the 'code is law' philosophy, whereas Ethereum focuses on scalability improvements and ecosystem development through regular updates.

    What are the main security concerns with Ethereum Classic?

    ETC has experienced multiple 51% attacks between 2019-2020, where attackers temporarily controlled majority mining power to reorganise blocks and double-spend tokens. These incidents highlight ongoing risks from mining centralisation and the network's smaller hash rate compared to Bitcoin or Ethereum.

    How is Ethereum Classic taxed in Australia?

    The ATO treats ETC as a cryptocurrency subject to capital gains tax when sold, traded, or used for purchases. Australian investors must maintain detailed records of all ETC transactions including dates, costs, and disposal details. Exchanges must comply with AUSTRAC requirements for identity verification and transaction monitoring.

    Can Ethereum applications run on Ethereum Classic?

    Many Ethereum applications can run on ETC due to shared EVM compatibility, but differences in network features, gas costs, and security assumptions may require modifications. However, ETC's smaller ecosystem means fewer native applications and development resources compared to Ethereum's extensive DeFi and NFT infrastructure.

    Is Ethereum Classic still being developed?

    Yes, ETC continues active development with regular protocol updates and security improvements. However, the development community is smaller than Ethereum's, focusing primarily on maintaining network stability and security rather than implementing major feature additions or scaling solutions.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How often is the Ethereum Classic price updated?

    CoinHours pulls live ETC pricing from CoinGecko, which aggregates trades across major exchanges. The page refreshes the displayed figures every few minutes; the underlying market data updates continuously and may move significantly between refreshes during volatile sessions.

    Why does the Ethereum Classic price differ between exchanges?

    Each exchange runs its own order book, so prices drift slightly based on local supply and demand, regional liquidity, and pair availability. The figure shown here is a weighted average designed to represent the broad market price rather than any single venue. Arbitrage typically keeps the differences small for major assets but can widen during fast moves or on smaller exchanges.

    Is buying Ethereum Classic legal in Australia?

    Yes. Cryptocurrency is legal to buy, hold, and trade in Australia. Exchanges operating in Australia must register with AUSTRAC and comply with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules. The ATO treats crypto as property for tax purposes — see the Australian investors section above for tax implications.

    What is market cap and why does it matter?

    Market capitalisation equals current price multiplied by circulating supply and gives a rough measure of an asset's total value in public hands. It is a more meaningful comparison metric than price alone because two coins with identical prices can have radically different supplies. Market cap rank is one input investors use when assessing relative size, but it does not account for locked tokens, future emissions, or actual on-chain liquidity.

    Should I store Ethereum Classic on an exchange or in a wallet?

    Exchange custody is convenient but exposes you to counterparty risk — exchange failures and hacks have wiped out customer balances historically. For amounts material to your finances, a hardware wallet under your own control is the standard recommendation. Read the security guide for a full comparison of custody options and seed-phrase best practices.

    Information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute financial, investment, or tax advice. Cryptocurrency prices are volatile and you can lose your entire investment. Consult a qualified Australian financial adviser and registered tax agent before making investment decisions.