EthereumPoW (ETHW) emerged in the wake of one of the most transformative events in blockchain history—the Ethereum Merge on September 15, 2022. As Ethereum transitioned from a Proof of Work (PoW) to a Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, a faction of miners and developers who valued the decentralized, energy-intensive mining model chose to preserve it through a hard fork. This gave birth to EthereumPoW, a blockchain that maintains the original PoW framework while retaining Ethereum’s core functionalities like smart contracts and dApp support.
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What Is EthereumPoW?
EthereumPoW is a community-driven hard fork of the Ethereum blockchain, created to sustain the Proof of Work consensus mechanism after Ethereum abandoned it post-Merge. Unlike Ethereum 2.0, which relies on staking to validate transactions, EthereumPoW continues to rely on miners solving cryptographic puzzles to secure the network and confirm blocks.
At its heart, EthereumPoW combines two powerful elements: the battle-tested security of PoW and the rich programmability of Ethereum. This hybrid approach allows ETHW to support smart contracts—self-executing agreements coded directly onto the blockchain—making it a viable platform for decentralized applications (dApps), DeFi protocols, and NFT marketplaces.
The network’s native token, ETHW, plays a central role in powering transactions, paying gas fees, and rewarding miners for their computational contributions.
The EthereumPoW Development Team
EthereumPoW is spearheaded by a dedicated team of blockchain advocates committed to decentralization and open-source innovation. Leading the initiative is Chandler Guo, a well-known figure in the mining community with extensive experience in GPU and ASIC mining operations. He is joined by key contributors including Kevin Wang, David Li, and Peter Zhang—each bringing technical expertise and strategic vision to the project.
This core team envisions EthereumPoW as the true continuation of pre-Merge Ethereum, preserving its original ethos of permissionless participation and miner-based decentralization. They believe that PoW remains one of the most secure and censorship-resistant models for blockchain consensus, especially when paired with Ethereum’s advanced smart contract capabilities.
How Does EthereumPoW Work?
EthereumPoW operates using the same fundamental principles as Bitcoin and early Ethereum: Proof of Work. In this system:
- Miners use high-powered hardware to solve complex mathematical problems.
- The first miner to solve the puzzle gets to add a new block to the blockchain.
- In return, they are rewarded with newly minted ETHW tokens and transaction fees.
This process ensures network security by making it computationally expensive to alter past transactions. Because no single entity can easily dominate the mining power, the network remains resistant to attacks and centralized control.
Crucially, EthereumPoW is not compatible with Ethereum 2.0. It’s a permanent hard fork, meaning both chains now run independently with different consensus rules. Nodes on each network follow separate protocols, so ETH on the mainnet does not automatically function on ETHW—and vice versa.
Understanding ETHW: The Native Token
ETHW serves as the lifeblood of the EthereumPoW ecosystem. Every transaction, smart contract execution, or dApp interaction requires ETHW to pay for gas—the fee that compensates miners for their work.
Beyond utility, ETHW also functions as a governance and incentive tool:
- Miner rewards: Encourage continued participation in network security.
- Transaction fees: Paid in ETHW to prevent spam and prioritize network usage.
- dApp integration: Developers build decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, and NFT projects using ETHW as the base currency.
Like Bitcoin and Litecoin, ETHW has no maximum supply cap. New tokens are released through mining, ensuring long-term miner incentives and gradual inflation—a model favored by many in the PoW community for promoting fairness and accessibility.
ETHW Token Distribution Model
The initial distribution of ETHW was designed to reward existing Ethereum holders and ensure fair access:
- 70% – Airdropped to ETH and WETH holders at a 1:1 ratio based on snapshot data
- 20% – Reserved for the core development team and advisors
- 10% – Allocated for marketing, ecosystem growth, and future development
This airdrop strategy helped bootstrap adoption by giving early Ethereum supporters an automatic stake in the new chain. It also minimized centralization risks by avoiding large private sales or venture capital allocations.
👉 Learn how token distribution impacts blockchain fairness and decentralization.
Use Cases of EthereumPoW
Despite being a fork, EthereumPoW isn't just a nostalgic throwback—it offers real-world utility grounded in modern blockchain needs:
1. Decentralized Applications (dApps)
Developers can deploy dApps on ETHW just as they would on Ethereum, leveraging familiar tools like Solidity and MetaMask.
2. Smart Contracts
ETHW supports Turing-complete smart contracts, enabling automated agreements, DAOs, and programmable finance.
3. Mining Accessibility
Unlike PoS systems that require significant capital to stake, PoW allows anyone with hardware to participate in securing the network.
4. NFTs & Gaming
Artists and game developers use ETHW for minting NFTs and building play-to-earn ecosystems without relying on staking infrastructure.
5. Cross-Chain Bridges
Several bridges connect ETHW with other blockchains, enabling asset transfers and liquidity sharing across networks.
Future Roadmap and Ecosystem Growth
The EthereumPoW team has outlined an ambitious vision focused on two pillars: ecosystem expansion and technical enhancement.
Ecosystem Development
To attract developers, the team is actively promoting grants, hackathons, and partnerships with Web3 startups. The goal is to grow the number of active dApps, DeFi protocols, and user-facing services on the platform.
Scalability & Security Upgrades
Drawing lessons from Ethereum’s pre-Merge congestion issues, ETHW is exploring layer-2 solutions and optimized consensus tweaks to improve throughput and reduce latency. Security audits and node decentralization remain top priorities.
Long-term success hinges on maintaining relevance in a PoS-dominated landscape—by emphasizing decentralization, miner empowerment, and low barriers to entry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What happened to Ethereum mining after the Merge?
A: After the Merge, Ethereum switched to Proof of Stake, eliminating traditional mining. Validators now secure the network by staking ETH instead of using computational power.
Q: Can I still mine Ethereum?
A: You can’t mine Ethereum anymore, but you can mine EthereumPoW (ETHW)—the PoW fork that continues the original mining model.
Q: How did I receive ETHW if I held ETH?
A: If you held ETH or WETH at the time of the fork snapshot, you received an equal amount of ETHW via an airdrop (1 ETH = 1 ETHW).
Q: Is ETHW a good investment?
A: As with any cryptocurrency, ETHW carries risk. Its value depends on miner support, dApp adoption, and broader market trends. Always conduct thorough research before investing.
Q: Can I use MetaMask with EthereumPoW?
A: Yes. You can manually add the ETHW network to MetaMask by configuring the correct RPC settings provided by the official ETHW documentation.
Q: Is EthereumPoW secure?
A: Security depends on mining decentralization. While smaller than Ethereum’s pre-fork hashrate, ETHW maintains active mining pools and regular block production.
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EthereumPoW stands as a testament to ideological diversity within the crypto space. While mainstream attention shifted toward energy-efficient PoS models, ETHW preserves the original spirit of decentralized mining—offering an alternative path forward for developers, miners, and users who believe in open participation.
With strong fundamentals, clear use cases, and ongoing development momentum, EthereumPoW remains a compelling option in the ever-evolving world of blockchain technology.