Ethereum Classic (ETC) has successfully implemented its planned upgrade, integrating Ethereum's (ETH) Istanbul functionalities into its blockchain. This milestone establishes full protocol compatibility between the two networks.
Key Details of the Phoenix Hard Fork
- Activation Date: May 31
- Block Height: 10,500,839 (mined at 8:00 PM EDT)
- Objective: Align ETC with ETH's earlier Istanbul hard fork
This marks the third major upgrade in ETC's recent roadmap to enhance parity with ETH:
- Atlantis (September 2019): Introduced foundational improvements
- Agharta (December 2019): Incorporated Constantinople features
- Phoenix (May 2020): Added Istanbul compatibility
According to ETH developer Afri Schoedon, this achievement represents "protocol parity" between the projects.
Technical Impacts and Considerations
- Network Stability: Minor disruptions occurred with a small group of miners remaining on the pre-fork chain.
- Client Compatibility: Hyperledger Besu clients experienced synchronization delays, though this primarily affects enterprise environments.
- Smart Contract Portability: Developers can now migrate ETH dApps to ETC with minimal adjustments.
👉 Explore how blockchain upgrades enhance network interoperability
ETC's Current Ecosystem Status
| Metric | Status |
|--------|-------|
| DApp Development | Limited adoption compared to competitors |
| ETC Token Utility | Expanding use cases (e.g., Gitcoin rewards) |
| DeFi Integration | Accepted as collateral on Fantom-based platforms |
Future Outlook for Ethereum Classic
Challenges:
- Building developer interest beyond protocol compatibility
- Competing with ETH-alternatives like Binance Smart Chain
Opportunities:
- Leveraging its "original ETH" positioning for ideological appeal
- Potential capital inflow from ETH developers seeking alternative platforms
FAQs
Q: What makes ETC different from ETH?
A: ETC maintained the original chain after the DAO fork, upholding immutability principles while ETH implemented backward-incompatible changes.
Q: Can I run ETH smart contracts on ETC now?
Yes. Protocol parity allows direct porting of dApps, though network effects remain a hurdle.
Q: Where is ETC gaining traction?
Recent partnerships include Gitcoin for developer rewards and Fantom for collateralized positions.
Q: Should investors consider ETC?
While technologically comparable, ETH's larger ecosystem currently offers more development activity and liquidity.
👉 Learn about smart contract platforms with multi-chain compatibility