Ethereum (ETH) and Ethereum Classic (ETC) are two distinct blockchain networks that originated from the same codebase. The split occurred in 2016 following a controversial hard fork due to a major hack on the Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) that was built on the Ethereum platform. This article explores the key differences between Ethereum and Ethereum Classic, including their philosophies, technical features, and community support.

1. Origins and History

In 2016, the DAO was launched on the Ethereum network and raised over $150 million in Ether. However, a vulnerability in the DAO's code was exploited, leading to the loss of a significant amount of funds. To mitigate this issue, the Ethereum community proposed a hard fork to reverse the hack and return the stolen funds to the original investors. This hard fork resulted in the creation of Ethereum (ETH).

Ethereum Classic (ETC) is the original Ethereum blockchain that continued on the path established before the fork, maintaining the principle of "code is law." This means that transactions should not be altered or reversed, regardless of the circumstances.

2. Philosophical Differences

• Ethereum (ETH): Focuses on adaptability and governance, allowing changes to the protocol to address issues and improve the network. The community believes in the need for intervention in the case of hacks or exploits.
• Ethereum Classic (ETC): Upholds the philosophy of immutability and censorship resistance. The community believes that all transactions should remain permanent and that the integrity of the blockchain should not be compromised.

3. Technical Differences

4. Sample Code: Deploying a Smart Contract on Both Networks

The following Solidity code can be deployed on both Ethereum and Ethereum Classic, as both networks support the same smart contract language:

pragma solidity ^0.8.0;

contract SimpleStorage {
    uint256 storedData;

    function set(uint256 x) public {
        storedData = x;
    }

    function get() public view returns (uint256) {
        return storedData;
    }
}

5. Market and Adoption

Ethereum has a significantly larger market capitalization and user base compared to Ethereum Classic. As of now, Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, while Ethereum Classic ranks lower. This difference in adoption is reflected in the number of decentralized applications (dApps) built on each platform, with Ethereum hosting a vast ecosystem of projects.

Conclusion

In summary, Ethereum and Ethereum Classic represent two different philosophies and approaches to blockchain technology. Ethereum focuses on flexibility and governance, allowing for protocol changes and upgrades, while Ethereum Classic emphasizes immutability and the original vision of the blockchain. Both platforms have their unique strengths and communities, catering to different types of users and developers.