Ethereum Classic (ETC) is the original Ethereum blockchain that emerged after a hard fork in 2016 following the infamous DAO hack. While the majority of the community moved to the new chain (Ethereum - ETH), a portion opted to preserve the original, unaltered ledger, upholding the principle of "Code is Law." As a decentralized platform, it is not owned or operated by a single entity. It enables developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. The network is secured by a Proof-of-Work consensus mechanism and is maintained by a global community of volunteer developers, miners, and enthusiasts, with formal support from organizations like the non-profit ETC Cooperative.