The ETC Cooperative, a 501c3-compliant public charity fund established on September 7, 2017, focuses on supporting the development and growth of the ETC project. This open letter addresses the ongoing discussions around the ETH PoW fork, led by figures like Chandler Guo. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has stated that a potential Ethereum PoW fork is unlikely to achieve long-term widespread adoption.
Why the Ethereum PoW Fork Won't Succeed
Dear Chandler Guo,
Let me explain why I believe the Ethereum PoW fork will not succeed—and why it will be an incredibly challenging endeavor.
1. Technical Challenges
During the ETH/ETC split, supporting ETC was straightforward: miners simply continued mining and running the same client software. No extra effort was required. This time, however, you'll need to:
- Fork Geth (and possibly Erigon, Besu, and Nethermind).
- Remove PoS conversion logic, disable the difficulty bomb, and update the chain ID for protection.
- Update/fork mining software to support the new chain ID.
Unlike open-source client code, much mining software is proprietary, requiring you to persuade its creators to make these changes and maintain them.
2. Coordination Hurdles
You’ll need to collaborate with:
- Wallet providers to support ETHW.
- Exchanges to list ETHW.
- Node operators to run the new software post-fork.
This level of coordination is arduous and time-consuming, as evidenced by ETC’s own upgrade cycles. Currently, there’s little public information about client development or software releases, undermining trust and readiness.
3. Ecosystem Breakdown
The PoW fork chain will face severe disruptions:
- Stablecoins: USDT, USDC, and other asset-backed stablecoins will collapse, as issuers will support ETH.
- DeFi: Most DeFi projects rely on stablecoins and will be rendered useless.
- dApps: Chain-off resources (websites, servers, documentation) will vanish post-fork. Projects with admin keys won’t hand them over to fork operators, leading to broken functionality.
- NFTs: PoW-chain NFTs won’t be recognized or supported. Platforms like OpenSea won’t have fork versions.
4. Lack of User Value
Without parallel infrastructure from projects, the PoW chain will offer little value to end users. The post-fork chain will likely become a "disaster zone" due to DeFi/NFT breakdowns.
5. Urgency
With the merge just weeks away, it’s too late to address these challenges. The fork’s inevitable failure will only cause confusion after initial speculative pumps.
The Solution: Switch to ETC
As Barry noted, "We fully support ETH PoS and will not back any ETH PoW fork. ETH miners should switch to ETC to maximize long-term revenue—it’s that simple." He’s right.
Good luck,
Bob
FAQs
1. Why is the Ethereum PoW fork unlikely to succeed?
The fork requires massive technical and ecosystem coordination, which isn’t feasible within the short timeframe. Stablecoins, DeFi, and NFTs will collapse on the PoW chain.
2. What should ETH miners do instead?
Miners should transition to ETC to ensure long-term revenue stability, as ETC remains the viable PoW chain.
3. Will the PoW fork have any value?
Unlikely. Without project support, the chain will lack functional dApps, stablecoins, and user value, leading to rapid failure.
👉 Learn more about ETC’s advantages for miners
4. How does ETC differ from ETH PoW?
ETC has maintained its PoW consensus, avoiding ETH’s transition to PoS. It offers a stable, miner-friendly alternative without ecosystem fragmentation.
👉 Explore ETC mining opportunities
5. What’s the biggest risk for the PoW fork?
The "unforkable" nature of Ethereum’s ecosystem—projects won’t support parallel infrastructures, leaving the chain barren and unusable.