Ethereum Classic is the “original” Ethereum, representing the first genuine attempt to expand on Bitcoin’s use case beyond being “electronic money”. Launched in 2015 after a successful initial coin offering (ICO) in 2014, Ethereum Classic was the first smart contracts platform. This capability meant that users could not only deploy self-executing contracts but also proceed to run complex programs on a decentralized platform, similar to Bitcoin.
While the vision of Ethereum was grand and slowly being actualized, there was a devasting hack paralyzing one of the first decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) in 2016. To recover 3.6 million ETH, worth $50 million at the time, developers decided to split the chain. The hard fork created the modern Ethereum. Blockchain purists and believers of code is law stuck with the other chain, which became “Ethereum Classic.”
Since then, Ethereum Classic has evolved to be an independent chain, relying on a web of proof-of-work miners. This design is how Ethereum operated from launch and never deviated from the path, similar to Bitcoin. With the hard fork, Ethereum Classic’s native currency was renamed ETC.
As expected of crypto assets, ETC has been fluctuating in value over the years, reflecting the state of affairs at Ethereum Classic. As of March 21, 2025, Ethereum Classic (ETC) is changing hands at $17.73, which is a -2.07% change over the last day of trading. At this valuation, Ethereum Classic is down from its all-time high of $165.75, set in 2021, but has decreased -41.30% over the last 12 months. It has a market cap of $2.68B.
Ethereum Classic Price Prediction: ETC Overview
| Coin Name | Ethereum Classic (ETC) |
| Ethereum Classic Price | $17.73 |
| Ethereum Classic ATH | $165.75 (May 6, 2021) |
| Ethereum Classic Price Change 24h | ▼ -2.62% |
| Ethereum Classic Price Change 7d | ▼ -1.93% |
| Ethereum Classic Market Cap | $2.68B |
| Circulating Supply | 151.02M |
In this Ethereum Classic price prediction article, we shall look at the platform’s prospects and evaluate the odds of the coin rallying in line with supporter’s expectations. The piece will seek to forecast prices from this year to 2030, considering multiple market factors.
Most importantly, during our analysis, we shall determine whether the project’s mission and vision would steer prices. At the same time, the article delves deeper, looking at the impact of Ethereum Classic in crypto and whether it stands a chance against competitors.
Beyond this, the ETC price prediction article would assess the impact of Bitcoin and its volatility, market sentiment, and project-related developments in shaping price action.
Ethereum Classic Price Prediction 2026-2030
Here’s is a summary of our Ethereum Classic price prediction, looking at where our analysts place ETC between now and 2030:
- End of 2026: In 2024, Ethereum Classic was fairly balanced. Even though prices closed the year strongly, buyers didn’t break above $40. In Q4 2024, prices rose rapidly from July lows at around $16, more than doubling. At this pace, the coin trailed Bitcoin, which broke all-time highs and breached $100,000 for the first time since launch. Traders expect ETC to shake off the weakness of early January 2025 and reclaim $40. However, how prices evolve largely depends on market factors, including politics, Bitcoin volatility, and Ethereum Classic-related developers. We forecast ETC to average $33 in 2026. During this time, prices should swing between $20 and $45.
- End of 2030: Analysts are confident that blockchain is a technology here to stay. Ethereum Classic, one of the earliest, may benefit from its first-mover advantage and longevity. Like Bitcoin, the network is not green, and more developers opt to build on scalable alternatives like Solana. Interestingly, interest is also shifting to layer-2 platforms building on Ethereum. The low fees may support ETC in the medium term, but network growth is needed, with protocols launching solutions on the platform. From the institutional angle, some, including Grayscale, are still tracking ETC, preferring its fixed supply as a selling point. Our Ethereum Classic prediction puts the coin at an average price of $80 in the next five years.
| Year | Potential Low | Average Price | Potential High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $20 | $33 | $45 |
| 2030 | $65 | $80 | $95 |
Ethereum Classic Price Prediction 2025-2026
was mostly ranging in 2024, moving between $16 and $40. In Q1 2024, prices moved sharply, building on the strong momentum from Q4 2023 when the expectation of a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval in the United States lifted sentiment. ETC prices more than doubled from $15 in Q4 2023 to nearly $40 in March 2024. Thereafter, prices fell, dipping to the $15 zone before bouncing back in H2 2024, retesting $40 by December 2024.
There were no major developments in 2024 that could be attributed to gains seen in late Q4 2024. In 2021, the Ethereum Classic Foundation announced ECIP-1104 to improve interoperability with Ethereum while lowering costs.
Last year, the network reduced block rewards from 2.56 ETC to 2.048 ETC, forcing inflation to around 3.8%. The next adjustment will be after 20 million blocks, or in H1 2026, an event that will further make ETC deflationary.
After the impressive run in December, ETC is facing headwinds at press time when writing in early January 2025. The coin is down nearly 50% from 2024 highs, dropping below $25. This contraction coincides with a market-wide correction that has seen competitors drop in value.
If prices are to recover, ETC bulls must push prices higher, averaging $33 by the end of next year.
Buy ETC on Best WalletEthereum Classic Price Forecast: Long-Term Outlook 2027-2030
Overall, our analysts are confident about what lies ahead for Ethereum Classic. It will be essential for ETC to rally above $40, shaking off the weaknesses of 2022. Once buyers overcome this barrier, ideally this year or next, the probability of the coin not only floating to $80 and later all-time high of $178 will be on the table. Technical candlestick arrangement supports this overview now that ETC found a firm base at around the $10 to $15 zone.
Ethereum Classic, like Ethereum, Solana, Algorand, and other competitors, allows developers to build and launch protocols using Solidity, a programming language. An experienced Ethereum developer can easily build on the proof-of-work Ethereum Classic base layer, achieving the same result. If Ethereum and its ecosystem of scaling options dominate, Ethereum Classic could benefit. The network would be preferred by developers who believe in immutability and a base layer protected by miners committing resources to secure the platform.
Since Ethereum Classic doesn’t exist in isolation, macroeconomic factors would influence prices. If governments continue to tweak their monetary policies in the next five years, ETC will be ebbing and flowing, reflecting on these bankers’ decisions. Further rate hikes in 2025 could lift Bitcoin prices, which in turn help pump altcoins like ETC.
Beyond this, endorsement of Ethereum Classic by high-profile companies, hard forks, and more core improvements, coupled with institutional adoption, will be the tailwinds pushing ETC to new valuations. From our forecasts, Ethereum Classic may end up trading at a mean price of $80 by 2030.
Our Ethereum Classic Price Prediction Methodology
Ethereum Classic is among the top 50 most valuable coins. Even though ETC is down the market cap rankings, its role in crypto is evident. This Ethereum Classic price prediction article is based on thorough research, carefully examining internal and external market factors.
As history shows, ETC has been through boom and bust cycles, similar to other coins, including Cardano. Regardless of market cycles, the network has been operational, and developers regularly release new updates. Some of the crucial updates in the past few years include the launch of the Mantis Client in 2019. The client, developed by Input Output (IOHK)—the team behind Cardano, sought to improve stability and further decentralize the network.
It is important to point out that in 2020, Ethereum Classic suffered a 51% attack, allowing hackers to reverse transactions and re-organize blocks, the team implemented Modified Exponential Subjective Scoring (MESS). Here, the objective was to prevent future attacks, making similar attacks expensive.
This Ethereum Classic price prediction article considers all these developments, factoring them in for a more balanced preview.
Ethereum Classic Price History
As of early January 2025, Ethereum Classic is the 42nd most valuable coin. According to Coingecko, there are over 150 million ETC in circulation, while the total supply is fixed at 210 million.
ETC is trading at $17.73 and stuck in a multi-month consolidation with clear caps at $15 on the lower end and $40 on the upper end.
Much is expected from Ethereum Classic. While being among the first, it is underperforming. Its gap with Ethereum is widening and has been overtaken by emerging projects, some of them running on Ethereum. For instance, Aave is ahead of the pack, although it is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol on Ethereum.
According to Coingecko, Ethereum Classic is down 85% from all-time highs of around $180 registered in May 2021. Even so, at this valuation, early adopters who scooped the coin at around $0.615 in July 2016 for $0.615 are up nearly 40X.
What is Ethereum Classic?
Ethereum Classic is technically the first smart contracts platform that launched in 2015. The DAO hack in 2016 led to the split, officially forming Ethereum Classic.
The open-source platform relies on proof-of-work for consensus, adopting a legacy approach that Litecoin, Monero, and Bitcoin are still preserving.
On Ethereum Classic, developers can deploy smart contracts that power solutions shaping finance, gaming, and art, among other sectors. Unlike Ethereum, network developers still maintain that “code is law.” As such, its blockchain can’t be rolled back even if millions of ETC are lost in a hack.
There will be 210.7 million ETC to ever circulate after the last coin is mined in 2077. The fixed supply, unlike the infinite supply of Ethereum (ETH), could explain why ETC is considered a store of value asset.
Ethereum Classic Use Cases
Ethereum Classic aims to be the “world computer”, competing with Ethereum and other modern chains. At the core of the network is ETC, the native currency, that plays a key role in:
- Payments and Remittance While Ethereum Classic can host dapps, all smart contracts can only be executed if a fee is paid. This “gas” fee is in ETC. Additionally, users wishing to move value must pay gas in ETC for the transaction to go through. Fees and a block reward are distributed to the successful miner tasked with confirming that all transactions are valid and the network is secure.
- DeFi: Holders of ETC can lend their coins or deposit them as collateral to borrow stablecoins and other assets. At the same time, ETC can provide liquidity in native protocols in exchange for a yield. Because DeFi activity is limited on the network, there is an option to “wrap” ETC and bridge to Ethereum.
What Drives the Price of ETC?
ETC prices have been turbulent since the first listing on leading centralized crypto exchanges. Despite challenges, Ethereum Classic remains liquid and continues to trade on Binance, Coinbase, and other top exchanges.
Presently, the coin is under pressure and down 85% from the all-time high. It remains to be seen whether bulls have what it takes to reclaim key sell walls in the coming weeks and months. In the short term, $40 is a crucial level that must be broken for trend continuation.
If prices are to tick higher (or lower), traders and investors should watch out for the following:
- Prevailing market conditions: There is a clear correlation between Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ethereum Classic prices. Whenever Bitcoin ticks higher, ETH and ETC tend to follow. This synchrony was seen in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Therefore, if Bitcoin and Ethereum extend gains in the coming months, it is highly likely that ETC will rally sharply, even to $100, by the end of the year.
- The “Ethereum” Effect: While Ethereum Classic is an independent blockchain, it remains shackled to Ethereum. The transition of Ethereum from proof-of-work to a staking system boosted demand in ETC. Moreover, a DeFi, NFT, or meme coin boom in Ethereum also tends to prop up ETC prices. As Ethereum scales in the subsequent phases, the network will benefit from the spillover in network activity, supporting prices and miners. In light of this lock-step movement, any cracks in Ethereum may likely heap pressure on Ethereum Classic, pushing investors and traders to safer assets, including Bitcoin and stablecoins.
- Institutional Support: Ethereum Classic could be struggling as of early 2025, but it was among the first altcoins to be supported by the then-strict Coinbase. Before Coinbase relaxed its listing rules, it supported less than five coins, including ETC and Litecoin (LTC). This advantage helped cement the network’s position and credibility, enabling swift listing on other exchanges and platforms. In 2023, Grayscale, a digital asset management firm, listed the Ethereum Classic Trust (ETCG) on the over-the-counter (OTC) market. This critical endorsement opened doors for institutions to get ETC exposure in a regulated environment.
- Competitors: Ethereum Classic urgently needs to scale and draw more developers and protocols. The network hosts less than 100 protocols, with most developers opting for the more vibrant Ethereum, Ethereum layer-2 platforms, and Solana. With few dapps, the demand for ETC will fall, forcing prices lower. As BitInfoCharts data shows, on-chain activity has been flat over the last three years. On average, the network processes less than 100,000 transactions per day.
Is Ethereum Classic a Buy?
Overall, our Ethereum Classic price prediction algorithm is bullish on ETC. Even so, investors should do their due diligence, aware that there are no guarantees. If everything aligns and there is a drive high, ETC may rally 10X by the end of the decade. On the other hand, if Ethereum Classic fails to catch up with competitors and loses developers and relevance, ETC may bleed in the coming months.
You can trade ETC, exploiting short- and medium-term volatility, or even participate in DeFi.
If you currently hold ETC, you can store it on Best Wallet, a crypto wallet that is secure and top-rated.
Best Wallet has been audited and used by tens of thousands of crypto users across the world. You can also check out our How to Buy Ethereum Classic guide.
Conclusion
Ethereum Classic has cemented its place in crypto history. Despite recent market challenges, ETC is liquid and available for trading in multiple exchanges, including Binance and Ethereum. There is also an active developer base, though more protocols need to be launched on the network.
From the price perspective, ETC is solid. If bears take over in Q1 2025, $15 should hold for buyers to bounce back quickly. Any surge above $40 may trigger demand and fear of missing out (FOMO), pushing prices toward all-time highs in the coming months.
Fueling this sort of “welcomed” surge will be a recovery in DeFi activity in Ethereum, for example, or even the launch of a viral meme coin; think of “Pepe” on Ethereum classic. Any development that will also scale Ethereum Classic, allowing for cheap micro-transaction processing, could steer prices toward the $100 level.
Bullish as our analysts are, investors should always do their due diligence, proceed cautiously, and know that ETC is volatile.
For additional cryptocurrency ideas and alternatives to $ETC, check out our guide to the best cryptocurrencies to buy now where we feature coins that are likely to outperform Ethereum Classic.
FAQs
What is Ethereum Classic (ETC)?
When was Ethereum Classic Created?
How is Ethereum Classic (ETC) different from Ethereum (ETH)?
Is Ethereum Compatible with Ethereum Classic?
How Can I Buy ETC?
References
- “Ethereum Classic Transactions Comparison.” BitInfoCharts, https://bitinfocharts.com/comparison/etc-transactions.html#3y.
- “Applications on Ethereum Classic.” Ethereum Classic, https://ethereumclassic.org/services/apps. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
- “Ethereum Classic (ETC) Price, Charts, and Market Cap.” CoinGecko, https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/ethereum-classic.
- “What Is a 51% Attack?” Ethereum Classic Blog, 21 Nov. 2023, https://ethereumclassic.org/blog/2023-11-21-what-is-a-51-attack.
- Mantis Project Repository. GitHub, https://github.com/input-output-hk/mantis.
- “Ethereum Classic Improvement Proposal (ECIP) 1104.” Ethereum Classic ECIPs, https://ecips.ethereumclassic.org/ECIPs/ecip-1104.
- “ETC and Bitcoin Have the Fifthening and the Halving in 2024.” Ethereum Classic Blog, 22 Mar. 2023, https://ethereumclassic.org/blog/2023-03-22-etc-and-bitcoin-have-the-fifthening-and-the-halving-in-2024.
- “Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust Annual Report 2023.” U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1705181/000095017024019124/etcg-20231231.htm.
In This Article
- Ethereum Classic Price Prediction: ETC Overview
- Ethereum Classic Price Prediction 2026-2030
- Ethereum Classic Price Prediction 2025-2026
- Ethereum Classic Price Forecast: Long-Term Outlook 2027-2030
- Our Ethereum Classic Price Prediction Methodology
- Ethereum Classic Price History
- What is Ethereum Classic?
- Ethereum Classic Use Cases
- What Drives the Price of ETC?
- Is Ethereum Classic a Buy?
- Conclusion
- FAQs
- References
Free Bitcoin Crash Course
- Enjoyed by over 100,000 students.
- One email a day, 7 days in a row.
- Short and educational, guaranteed!
Why you can trust 99Bitcoins
Established in 2013, 99Bitcoin’s team members have been crypto experts since Bitcoin’s Early days.
Weekly Research
100k+Monthly readers
Expert contributors
2000+Crypto Projects Reviewed
