Ethereum Classic (ETC) is the original Ethereum blockchain that continued on its initial chain after the 2016 DAO hard fork, which reversed a major hack on the Ethereum network. Those who rejected the rollback maintained the Ethereum Classic chain, preserving the principle of “code is law.”

ETC uses a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, similar to Bitcoin, and supports smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). While it shares a common origin with Ethereum, ETC emphasizes immutability, censorship resistance, and decentralized governance, appealing to users and developers who prioritize strict adherence to blockchain principles.