What is EthereumPoW (ETHW)?

TLDR EthereumPoW (ETHW) is a proof-of-work (PoW) blockchain that split from Ethereum during its 2022 transition to proof-of-stake (PoS), preserving mining-based consensus and Ethereum’s pre-Merge technical framework.

1. Hard Fork Origin – Created to maintain Ethereum’s original PoW mechanism after the Merge.
2. Technical Continuity – Retains Ethereum’s pre-Merge codebase but disables the difficulty bomb and adjusts fee distribution for miners.
3. Community-Driven – Governed by decentralized contributors advocating for PoW’s censorship resistance.

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

ETHW emerged as a response to Ethereum’s shift to PoS in September 2022. Supporters argued PoW better aligns with decentralization and censorship resistance, particularly for miners and users skeptical of PoS’s regulatory risks. By forking, ETHW aimed to preserve Ethereum’s original vision while offering an alternative for those reliant on mining infrastructure (EthereumPoW FAQs).

2. Technology & Architecture

ETHW replicates Ethereum’s pre-Merge architecture, including its EVM compatibility and smart contract functionality. Key changes include:
- Difficulty Bomb Removal: Prevents escalating block times (a feature Ethereum used to incentivize its PoS transition).
- EIP-1559 Adjustment: Base fees from transactions are distributed to miners instead of being burned, enhancing miner rewards.
The chain uses Ethash, Ethereum’s original mining algorithm, and supports GPU mining (ETHW Core).

3. Key Differentiators

• PoW vs. PoS: ETHW positions itself as a “true” decentralized Ethereum, contrasting with Ethereum’s staking-centric model.
• No Maximum Supply: Unlike Ethereum’s deflationary post-Merge model, ETHW has no hard cap, aligning with Bitcoin-style monetary policy.
• Community Governance: Development is driven by anonymous contributors and volunteers, avoiding centralized control by foundations or corporations.

Conclusion

EthereumPoW is a ideological and technical fork of Ethereum, prioritizing PoW’s security model and mining ecosystem. While it mirrors Ethereum’s pre-2022 capabilities, its long-term viability hinges on sustaining developer activity and use cases distinct from Ethereum’s evolving ecosystem. Can ETHW carve a niche as a PoW smart-contract platform in a PoS-dominated landscape?