The Ethereum hard fork has sparked a new chapter in the blockchain world with the emergence of ETHW (EthereumPoW), a new blockchain that continues to support Proof-of-Work (PoW) mining. While this move preserves decentralization and miner autonomy, questions remain: Can ETHW survive long-term without backing from Vitalik Buterin or the core Ethereum development team? And more importantly, how can users benefit—especially through airdrop opportunities?
This article dives deep into the future of ETHW, analyzes the pros and cons of PoW persistence, explores potential market dynamics, and provides a clear guide on claiming your airdrop rewards.
Why Did ETHW Emerge? The Aftermath of The Merge
In 2022, Ethereum completed "The Merge," transitioning from energy-intensive PoW to the more efficient Proof-of-Stake (PoS) mechanism. While this shift improved scalability and reduced environmental impact, it left behind a community of miners who relied on computational power to validate transactions.
These miners faced a critical decision: migrate to other PoW chains like Ethereum Classic (ETC), or create a new chain that preserves the old mining model. ETHW was born from this resistance—backed by miners and PoW advocates who believe in decentralized mining and distrust centralized staking pools.
👉 Discover how blockchain transitions impact investor returns and mining communities.
Ethereum Miners Shift to ETC—But Is It Worth It?
After The Merge, many miners redirected their GPU power to Ethereum Classic (ETC), one of the few remaining PoW-based Ethereum forks. However, ETC’s lower hash rate and market capitalization mean reduced block rewards and less profitability.
Compared to pre-Merge Ethereum mining returns, ETC offers significantly lower value. This economic shortfall created demand for a new chain—closer to Ethereum’s original ecosystem but still PoW-based. Hence, ETHW stepped in as a direct continuation of the pre-Merge Ethereum chain.
Still, challenges loom. Without strong developer support or major DeFi integrations, ETHW struggles to attract developers and users. Unlike Ethereum, which hosts thousands of dApps and NFT platforms, ETHW lacks native utility beyond mining and speculation.
The Pros and Cons of Sticking With Proof-of-Work
Advantages of PoW in ETHW
- Decentralized Mining Access: Anyone with hardware can participate—no need for large staking deposits.
- Censorship Resistance: PoW networks are historically harder to manipulate by centralized entities.
- Security Through Hash Rate: A high hash rate makes attacks costly and impractical.
Drawbacks Facing ETHW
- Lack of Developer Support: No official backing from Vitalik or Ethereum’s core team limits innovation.
- Limited dApp Ecosystem: Few decentralized applications have migrated to ETHW.
- Environmental Concerns: PoW is often criticized for high energy consumption.
- Market Liquidity Risks: Low trading volume increases volatility and slippage.
While ideological commitment to PoW runs deep, long-term sustainability depends on real-world use cases—not just mining sentiment.
Will ETH PoW Succeed in the Long Run?
Success for ETHW hinges on three factors: community adoption, exchange listings, and ecosystem growth.
So far, several major exchanges—including OKX—have supported ETHW through trading pairs and airdrop distribution. This visibility helps maintain liquidity and trader interest.
However, without new smart contract innovations or partnerships with Web3 projects, ETHW risks becoming a speculative asset rather than a functional blockchain. Its survival may depend on attracting niche communities—like privacy-focused users or anti-PoS activists—while gradually building developer tools and infrastructure.
Market Making Strategies Around ETHW
Post-fork markets often see aggressive market-making tactics:
- Pump-and-Dump Schemes: Early holders may inflate prices before exiting.
- Liquidity Mining Incentives: Projects might offer yield farming rewards to bootstrap DeFi activity.
- Fork Airdrops as Marketing Tools: Distributing free tokens generates buzz and encourages trading.
Investors should remain cautious. High volatility is expected, especially during the initial months after launch. Monitoring on-chain data—such as wallet concentrations and exchange inflows—can help identify manipulative behavior.
👉 Stay ahead of market moves with real-time blockchain analytics and trading insights.
How to Claim Your ETHW Airdrop: Step-by-Step Guide
If you held ETH before The Merge (block number 15,537,393), you were eligible for an ETHW airdrop. Here's how to claim it:
- Use a Non-Custodial Wallet
Only wallets where you control the private keys qualify (e.g., MetaMask, Trust Wallet). Exchange-held ETH does not count. Access an ETHW-Compatible Wallet
Add the ETHW network to your wallet using official chain parameters:- Network Name: EthereumPoW
- RPC URL: https://mainnet.ethereumpow.org
- Chain ID: 10001
- Symbol: ETHW
- Block Explorer: https://www.oklink.com/ethw
- Check Your Balance
Once connected, your wallet should display an equal amount of ETHW tokens as your pre-fork ETH balance. - Swap or Transfer Safely
Use reputable decentralized exchanges (DEXs) like Uniswap or SushiSwap (on supported networks) to trade ETHW.
⚠️ Warning: Beware of phishing sites and fake airdrop scams. Never share your private key or seed phrase.
Challenges Ahead for ETH and the Broader Market
Even as ETHW struggles for relevance, Ethereum itself faces challenges:
- Scalability Delays: Full sharding rollout is still years away.
- Staking Centralization Risks: Large staking pools like Lido raise decentralization concerns.
- Regulatory Pressure: Global regulators scrutinize staking as a financial service.
Meanwhile, investor sentiment remains mixed. Some see PoS as inevitable progress; others miss the open participation of PoW mining.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I need to take action to receive ETHW if I held ETH before The Merge?
A: Yes—if you held ETH in a self-custody wallet. You must manually access your wallet with ETHW network support to view and manage your tokens.
Q: Can I get ETHW if I bought ETH after The Merge?
A: No. Only balances recorded at block 15,537,393 qualify for the airdrop.
Q: Is ETHW considered a legitimate fork like Bitcoin Cash?
A: It has legitimacy among PoW supporters, but lacks widespread adoption compared to historical forks.
Q: Why do some miners prefer PoW over PoS?
A: PoW allows hardware-based participation without requiring large capital for staking, promoting broader access.
Q: Is mining ETHW profitable in 2025?
A: Profitability depends on electricity costs, GPU efficiency, and ETHW’s price stability. Currently, returns are modest compared to pre-Merge Ethereum.
Q: Are there any DeFi apps on ETHW?
A: A few projects have launched clones of popular protocols, but liquidity and security audits remain limited.
👉 Explore secure ways to manage multiple blockchain assets across PoW and PoS networks.
Final Thoughts: Can ETHW Stand the Test of Time?
ETHW represents more than just a technical fork—it’s a philosophical stand for decentralized mining and resistance to centralization trends in blockchain governance. While it faces steep odds due to lack of ecosystem support and developer momentum, its existence keeps the PoW debate alive.
For investors and users, ETHW offers both opportunity and risk. Those who held ETH before The Merge can claim free tokens, but should carefully assess whether to hold, sell, or reinvest them.
As the crypto landscape evolves, chains like ETHW remind us that decentralization isn’t just about code—it’s about community choice.
Core Keywords: EthereumPoW, ETHW, Proof-of-Work, hard fork, airdrop claim, blockchain mining, cryptocurrency investment, Ethereum Merge