Ethereum Classic (ETC), the original Ethereum blockchain operating on proof-of-work consensus, is trading near $8 as it approaches two significant network developments expected in 2026.
The fifth programmatic reward reduction, known as the Fifthening, is scheduled at block 25,000,001 and will cut miner rewards by 20%, lowering block rewards from 2.048 ETC to 1.6384 ETC. This reduction is expected to decrease selling pressure from miners and strengthen the supply-demand balance.
The planned Olympia upgrade will introduce EIP-1559-style fee mechanics, where a portion of transaction fees are permanently burned, reducing circulating supply as network activity grows. The upgrade will also launch an on-chain DAO treasury to fund developers and support decentralized applications on the network.
Price analysts have projected the following targets based on these developments:
- 2026: $5.50 to $16.86, with an average of $9.28
- 2027: $8.59 to $31.95, with an average of $13.48
- 2030: $28.64 to $137, with an average of $68.38
On the technical side, ETC is trading above key support at $5.92 and faces resistance at $9.28. A daily close above $9.28 could open the path toward $16.86. Current indicators show a daily strong buy signal, with the RSI at 56, suggesting room for further gains.
ETC's price action remains sensitive to broader crypto market sentiment, Bitcoin momentum, and proof-of-work narratives. Analysts characterize it as a structurally resilient yet speculative asset as the crypto market moves through its recovery phase.
