Following the recent fork of Ethereum to retrieve the "stolen" DAO funds the old chain has been continued by those who opposed the precedent of censorship set by the hard fork.
This has become known as Ethereum Classic (ETC).
It was expected by most people that ETC would just quietly go off and die - those small number of miners using persisting the old chain would just give up and follow the herd.
However, the surprise listing on Poloniex Exchange today has lead to a surge in price with ETC trading at about 7% of the value of ETH. The volume has hit over 19,000 BTC on this particular exchange (ranking at number 2 with ETH at 43000 BTC) which makes it about 44% of the ETH volume.
I have also been hearing from fellow miners that they are switching to mining ETC due to the lower hash rate potentially giving them greater rewards. I am also going to switch over myself as an experiment to see how it works out - unfortunately I sold off most of my mining GPUs long ago so can only do so with a single gaming GPU now.
It would be interesting to see if we end up in the situation where the ETC hash rate (whilst not equal to ETH) is at a respectable level compared to ETH and is greater than many other big altcoins.
The current difficulty for ETC is about 2.5 TH here compared to around 61.78 TH for ETH here - this would suggest a hash rate of about 4% for ETC compared with ETH.
(Unfortunately I wasn't able to find a block explorer for ETC that displayed the exact hashrate if you know of one please let me know.)
Could this be a black swan moment?
If so what does this mean for ETH?
Could ETC prevail over ETH?
Let me know what you think below? Are you a miner - if so which chain are you mining and why?
Edit:
Interesting article here: Zsolt Felfoldl one of the ethereum foundation developers has just made a post in support of ETC:
https://medium.com/p/a-tale-of-two-chains-3f6d58a9df4a
Thanks to @qumatru on twitter for pointing this out but there is already a mining pool for ETC:
(Ether Classic logo linked from: Ether Classic Website)
How will ETHC maintain its value if the 2 biggest dApps are not going to support it?
Digix and Maker released a statement saying that they wish no ill to ETHC but they consider it a separate coin and they will not support it in anyway..
I don't think either of those DAPPS have that much of a sway right now. It might change in the future but if ETC hangs around long enough it might get it's own and who knows maybe Digix and Maker might even re-consider. Right now what they do is irrelevant if there are enough miners and traders supporting ETC.
They are the only dapps that matter, them plus Augur and Rep won't work on the old chain either based on how you interact with it. They can't reconsider -- they would have to develop on both. Your last comment is true but it's pretty irrational, traders and someone is effectively subsidizing that ecosystem where value can't really actually develop. It's like advanced trolling but the kind that costs money. So be it. It's fascinating nonetheless.
Yes whatever happens it has at least made things exciting. There is also the possibility that ETC becomes more of a trading currency like bitcoin. Will be interesting to see how things pan out.
Apparently some DAPPS may not work with ETC (but seems like a deliberate ploy by the makers to me). Spot on insights as always. Right the lower price of ETC may make it a better choice for trading and mining profitability.
Shapeshift might get in on it.
Source -
His reddit post was very much wait & see. Not rushing into it. He also asked who were not tech savvy to not try to anything with ETHC and made it seem dangerous. Voorhees on reddit
Weird synchronicity. I didn't see that tweet and just messaged them to ask if they were going to add. Awesome if they would. Are you mining it?
I'm not a miner and I'm kinda split on the ETC ETH debate.
A lot of people are.
Any further news on this?
Now when talking about ether we have to ask classic or hard fork. Never a dull moment especially with steem the last two weeks.
Exactly. Things were perhaps getting a bit too comfortable and the ether hubris and triumphalism of the HF was such that you just know something was going to happen to make things interesting.
The timing of the release onto Polo came in at nearly the top of this current rise, which is a bit suspect as it would not be hard to envision what this would do to the market prices... add 1 part uncertainty + 1 part chaos + 1 part while most are sleeping = an easy short opportunity. Thinking back to the DAO hack, the timing was also curious when you think about it. Lesson = when everything seems peachy, expect the unexpected b/c it's in someone's best interest to make that happen.
Yes that especially applies in the crypto world. There is a tendency for everything to be going well before there is a sudden unexpected calamity e.g. Mt Gox, Mintpal, the VRC theft etc.
Poloniex did also some other suprising decisions regding ETC and Loans, I described here:
https://steemit.com/etherium/@rnevet/the-eth-harkfork-poloniex-etc-ethereum-classic-token-and-what-i-m-missing
TLDR for people loaning ETH they credited the ETC to the borrower.
Thanks. I suspect a lot of people are not aware of this and may not find out until their loans terminate.
Hey guys be sure to check out the play by play of last night/this morning with full documented pictures and such...
https://steemit.com/cryptocurrency/@mastertrader777/major-crypto-currency-alert-etc-the-original-eth-is-now-trading-on-poloniex-why-i-just-bought-over-10k-etc
Was up all night reporting on this. Come check out my thread listed above for more details of my little diary
LMAO David Seaman is now panic streaming on why Ethereum Classic is A Scam:
I guess after this 51% attack gets reported on as being successful, that may well slice n dice ETC.
Imagine all the people buying via Coinbase - likely their first crypto experiences getting burned by these huge percentages over the weekend. Will be interesting what happens - price has hit th 61.8% retracement - looking for a bounce here.
It's certainly exciting whatever happens.
Yes indeed it is... I'm sure I was supposed to be something else today - oh well.
What will be interesting is what the DAO attacker does with his ETC... seems like he might want to punish ETH to pump his ETC's - I'm sure they are clever enough to do that.
I suspect so. Otherwise those 3 million ETC are pointless.
This moment was fascinating to me because I didn't exchanges to list it so quick but now BitSquare lists it as well. Exchanges make bank based on the trading volume so this debate about the hardfork must be fueling some $$$.
It raises some interesting questions around legitimacy. I found reading this post interesting: https://bitflikz.com/blogs/news/ethereum-whales-offer-legal-support-for-dao-hacker-challenging-foundation
I'm not saying these claims are legitimate but it does raise some questions when you think about how the hard fork happened and what it means for people. To whom is the foundation bound to?
I think the foundation should obviously be for whatever is best for the ecosystem and the users. Unfortunately they are human and I think are being swayed by their own financial incentives. Thanks for the article will give it a read when I have a moment.
This one of the FUDdiest FUD things I've ever seen in my life. And that's saying something. Especially starting it with "Puppets."
Lol. It's what crypto does best. FUD.
Looks like ETH supporters are now DDOSing the ETC pool. Not as surprise since some of them were calling for this from the beginning.
Poloniex keep surprising me with their surprise listings... Steem was the only one that wasn't that surprising.
What about their surprise not-listings? - I think WAVES was the most surprising.
Indeed, can't tell why they never added Waves.
The current thinking is because the current node code is closed source. They won't add until there is open source code which they can audit.
@moonjelly Yes that seems to be the case having spoken to people who claim to be in the know. The problem is Poloniex no longer comment publicly on coin adds due to the Supercoin fiasco from 2014.
The main reason WAVES full open source code has been delayed is to ensure security.
If it does what it intends to do the amounts of money involved will dwarf anything so far in crypto and that will create a big target for hacks and exploits.
Also Poloniex will take some time to add because they will have to do their own independent audit. WAVES is based on Scorex - a completely new platform. They may also need to get some legal advice due to the specifics of how WAVES will function.
In the end the wait will be worth it if it avoids a DAO like disaster.
That's a very legit reason.
If that's the case then it's a wise approach I would say, plenty of past exchange attacks came from bugs on shitcoins, well at least that's what the Cryptsy guy said ;)
There's nothing to look at here. ETC will live on - particularly because of a lower mining difficulty - but it's value will reach irrelevance soon enough.
But let's not kid anyone - this is not going to replace Ethereum. Not even close.
my thoughts exactly.
That's what I thought too initially however the current circumstances seem to be going against that. Even if it a short lived thing it will have a big impact on cryptocurrency in general. Think about the problems that already exist with the Bitcoin block size issue.
Very interesting - it just showed up on my crypto price ticker @thecryptofiend
It just appeared
What ticker app are you using?
As a miner : I will not switch to ETC.
As a cryptotrader : I have sold all ETC already
I have the explanation here :
https://steemit.com/cryptocurrency/@cryptoninja/the-ethereum-classic-madness
Great post. I can sympathise with your thinking but this is the crypto world. Anything is possible.
Finger's near the triger
Well if you decide to do it let me know how it goes. Sadly I don't have my proper mining farm anymore. I've found this pool though so it may still make sense for people in my position as the hashrate goes up. Thanks to @qumatru on twitter for pointing this out:
http://ethc.epool.io/
I've got my mining equipment setup and am ready to go. Just waiting for the wallet to sync.
It seems BFX confirmed they are adding it, and support may grow with development and use, definitely unexpected. I am not a miner but have traded ETH.
You mean Bitfinex - is it definite? I heard they would add if it hit 20% of ETHER hashrate. This is big.
Here is the confirmation: ~~~ embed:ethereum/comments/4uczsp/bitfinex_to_list_ethc_soon/d5opzjn?st=ir150v4j&sh=c36aeaee reddit metadata:fGV0aGVyZXVtfGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnJlZGRpdC5jb20vci9ldGhlcmV1bS9jb21tZW50cy80dWN6c3AvYml0ZmluZXhfdG9fbGlzdF9ldGhjX3Nvb24vZDVvcHpqbj9zdD1pcjE1MHY0aiZzaD1jMzZhZWFlZXw= ~~~
Thanks:)
I want to witness this ! Let this post go up to top notch baby .
Btw feel free to drop by in my blog mate thanks !
There is some serious issues with ETHHF and ETC at the moment. ETH was warned what potential dangers lie ahead when you play with fire (HF). Let this be a lesson learned to all those in Bitcoin who think hard forking is a solution. Its a bloodbath out there. I feel sorry for everyone caught up in it but I called it...
Yes as a DTH I was still deeply uncomfortable with the HF issue. The blame for this debacle rests squarely on the shoulders of the Slock.it team and their arrogance.
From whom? What's the source?
I am. This is from my Facebook Messenger.
Been watched ng polo for a while . Over 2000 btc volume. Love the drama🤓
It is certainly an interesting time.
New Coindesk article here on Ethereum Classic:
https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/miners-attack-ethereum-classic-polonixs-listing/
Cryptocoinnews, not Coindesk.
Here is the Coindesk Article:
http://www.coindesk.com/ethereum-hard-fork-creates-competing-currencies-support-ethereum-classic-rises
My mistake. There are two articles. Will post the other one once I have moment.
Cool choice https://steemit.com/ethereum/@cyberdesire/ethereum-vs-ethereum-classic
Yes. I'm going to support ethereum classic as a miner. May end up being worthless but I do like to support the underdog. The price is dropping but that may actually make it more profitable to mine particularly if the hashrate falls.
It's all about number and money, etc won't survive in the long term.
Who knows but it will be fun to watch. At least it brings some excitement back to things.
OK thanks to @barrysilbert on twitter there's a place where you can compare the two different ether forks directly including hashrate. Check it out:
http://fork.ethstats.net
ETC is going to be just another altcoin. It will dissapear!
Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows for sure?
Thanks for this guide
You are very welcome.