Latest Ethereum Classic (ETC) News Update

Deep Dive

1. Tether Ends ETC Support (30 August 2025)

Overview: Tether discontinued USDT on Ethereum Classic, Algorand, and three other blockchains, citing operational streamlining. ETC’s USDT liquidity (previously used for cross-chain swaps and trading pairs) now relies on alternative stablecoins or wrapped assets.
What this means: Short-term volatility risks rise as liquidity fragments, but long-term impact may be muted if projects migrate to ETH-based wrappers or native ETC DeFi expands. Tether’s exit aligns with broader regulatory pressure on multi-chain stablecoins (Bitget).

2. Olympia Upgrade Drafted (13 August 2025)

Overview: The Ethereum Classic DAO published ECIPs for the Olympia upgrade, introducing EIP-1559-style fee burns (80% to treasury) and on-chain governance via a decentralized treasury. Testnet rollout begins Q4 2025, with mainnet activation slated for late 2026.
What this means: Bullish for ETC’s scarcity narrative – burned fees could reduce annual supply growth by ~1.5%. However, delayed mainnet timelines (2026) may temper immediate price momentum (OKX).

3. ETC Grants DAO Revival (4 September 2025)

Overview: The ETC Grants DAO announced a $10M ecosystem fund backed by BITMAIN and ANTPOOL, prioritizing tooling, EVM compatibility, and PoW security research. The initiative aims to counter declining developer activity (-22% YoY).
What this means: Direct funding could attract builders alienated by Ethereum’s PoS shift, though competition from Ethereum L2s and Bitcoin L1s remains fierce. The DAO’s 50% ETC treasury allocation signals long-term confidence (Crypt0_DeFi).

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic balances USDT’s departure with governance upgrades and fresh capital for its PoW ethos. While liquidity headwinds persist, the Olympia Upgrade’s deflationary mechanics and Grants DAO’s developer push could reposition ETC as a niche haven for decentralization purists. Will on-chain governance accelerate adoption faster than competitors erode its market share?

Deep Dive

1. @Crypt0_DeFi: Ethereum Classic’s Unyielding Philosophy Bullish

“ETC refused to erase the DAO hack – proving code > politics.”
– @Crypt0_DeFi (12.3K followers · 48K impressions · 2025-09-09 07:00 UTC)
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What this means: Bullish for ETC’s branding as a “hardcore decentralization” alternative to ETH, appealing to anti-censorship advocates.

2. @EthClassicDAO: Olympia Upgrade Proposals Mixed

“First-ever on-chain treasury + DAO governance for PoW Ethereum chains.”
– @EthClassicDAO (8.9K followers · 22K impressions · 2025-07-01 22:51 UTC)
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What this means: Neutral-to-bullish – while decentralized funding could attract builders, the 2026 mainnet timeline tests patience.

3. CoinMarketCap Post: Bearish Technical Setup Bearish

“Descending triangle breakdown targets $19.62 if ETC loses $20 support.”
– Anonymous trader (Post date: 2025-08-01 11:30 UTC)
What this means: Bearish short-term sentiment as price struggles below $21.95 (current: $21.95), though RSI 56.29 suggests no extreme oversold signal.

Conclusion

The consensus on Ethereum Classic is mixed, torn between its ideological bedrock and erratic price action. While the Olympia Upgrade could address long-term funding decentralization, traders remain fixated on the $21.10–$22.16 range. Watch for DAO proposal submissions and whether ETC holds its 30-day support at $20.03.

Deep Dive

1. Olympia Upgrade (2026)

Overview: Targets protocol-level funding decentralization and DAO-driven governance. Four ECIPs activate EIP-1559-style fee burns (redirecting 80% of base fees to a treasury), immutable smart contracts, and community-led funding proposals.
What this means: This is bullish for ETC because it creates sustainable on-chain funding, reduces inflation via fee burns, and empowers holders to vote on ecosystem priorities. Testnet deployment is underway, with mainnet activation expected by late 2026 (Source).

2. EVM EOF Integration (2024)

Overview: Adopted Ethereum’s Cancún upgrade (EVM Object Format) to improve code validation, function handling, and gas efficiency for smart contracts.
What this means: Neutral for ETC, as it prioritizes backward compatibility and security over speed. Developers gain better tools, but user-facing changes are minimal. ETC typically delays upgrades by 3–6 months for audits, as seen in prior EVM syncs (Source).

3. Mystique Upgrade (2022)

Overview: Mirrored Ethereum’s London upgrade (EIP-1559), introducing variable block sizes and a base fee mechanism.
What this means: Bullish long-term, as it improved transaction predictability and laid groundwork for Olympia’s fee-redirect model. However, ETC’s PoW structure limited immediate fee burn impact compared to Ethereum’s PoS transition.

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic’s updates balance EVM compatibility with its PoW ethos, prioritizing decentralization over rapid innovation. The Olympia Upgrade could reshape governance but faces a 12–18 month rollout. Will on-chain DAOs attract enough developer activity to compete with Ethereum’s ecosystem?

Deep Dive

1. Olympia Upgrade (End of 2026)

Overview:
The Olympia Upgrade introduces four ECIPs:
- ECIP-1111: Implements EIP-1559 fee burning, redirecting 80% of base fees to a decentralized treasury.
- ECIP-1112: Creates an immutable on-chain treasury contract.
- ECIP-1113: Establishes DAO governance for protocol-level decisions.
- ECIP-1114: Enables permissionless funding proposals (ECFP).

What this means:
This is bullish for ETC as it decentralizes funding, aligns incentives for stakeholders, and introduces deflationary mechanics. However, delays in community consensus could slow implementation.

2. EVM Versioning (No Date)

Overview:
Proposed in ETC’s Future Classic roadmap, EVM versioning would allow contracts to run on specific EVM versions, ensuring old contracts remain functional despite upgrades.

What this means:
Neutral for ETC – it preserves "Code is Law" but adds technical complexity. Long-term, this could attract developers seeking stability for legacy dApps.

3. Layer 2 Integration (Ongoing)

Overview:
ETC aims to adopt Optimistic Rollups and other Layer 2 solutions, leveraging Ethereum’s R&D to scale without altering its base layer.

What this means:
Bullish for ETC’s utility, as Layer 2s could boost transaction throughput and DeFi activity. Risks include reliance on Ethereum’s ecosystem for innovation.

Conclusion

Ethereum Classic’s roadmap prioritizes decentralization, backward compatibility, and incremental upgrades – a strategy that balances innovation with its "Code is Law" ethos. The Olympia Upgrade is the most concrete milestone, potentially reshaping ETC’s governance and value dynamics by late 2026.

Will community-driven funding via the DAO accelerate development, or will slower consensus hinder progress?