Tag: ethereum classic thanos hard fork

The Ethereum Classic Thanos Hard Fork (ECIP-1099) was activated at block 11,700,000 in November 2020. Its primary purpose was to reduce the DAG size from approximately 4 GB to about 2.5 GB, enabling 4 GB GPUs to continue mining Ethereum Classic after the DAG size on Ethereum had exceeded this threshold. This upgrade proved critical as Ethereum prepared its transition to proof-of-stake, allowing many miners to migrate their GPUs to ETC and keep their hardware profitable.

In the following sections, we explore the technical rationale, the impact on the mining ecosystem, and the lasting significance of the Thanos upgrade for the Ethereum Classic network.

What Was the Thanos Hard Fork?

The Thanos hard fork implemented ECIP-1099, which modified the DAG size calculation so that the epoch for ETC was effectively reset. Under the original Ethash algorithm, the DAG grew with each epoch, and once it exceeded 4 GB, GPUs with 4 GB of VRAM could no longer mine. By recalculating the DAG size at a lower level, the fork gave those cards a second life on ETC.

This change was especially timely because Ethereum — the largest proof-of-work network — was approaching its merge to proof-of-stake. Miners with 4 GB GPUs that had been mining ETH could now switch to ETC without investing in new hardware.

Impact on Mining and Network Security

Following the activation of Thanos, the Ethereum Classic network experienced a dramatic increase in hash rate. The network's security benefitted greatly, with hash rate rising from roughly 3 TH/s in late 2020 to over 30 TH/s in 2021. This surge reflected the influx of former Ethereum miners seeking a new home for their GPUs. The upgrade also prompted widespread support from mining software providers; tools such as PhoenixMiner, lolMiner, NBMiner, and TeamRedMiner quickly added Thanos-compatible versions.

The increased hash rate not only strengthened the network against attacks but also stabilized transaction processing and block production on ETC.

Why the Name "Thanos"?

The upgrade was named after the Marvel character Thanos, reflecting its effect of "halving" the DAG size — a nod to the fact that the DAG size was reduced so significantly that many GPUs that had been "snapped" away from mining could now return. The community-driven governance process that led to the fork demonstrated ETC's ability to adapt to technical challenges.

Long-Term Significance

Today, the Thanos hard fork is regarded as a crucial moment for Ethereum Classic. It preserved the viability of millions of mid-range and older GPUs for mining, extended the network's proof-of-work life cycle, and cemented ETC's role as the leading proof-of-work chain after Ethereum's transition to proof-of-stake. Subsequent forks like Magneto and Mystique have built upon this foundation, but Thanos remains the most impactful upgrade in maintaining the network's decentralization.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Thanos hard fork on Ethereum Classic?

It was a network upgrade (ECIP-1099) at block 11,700,000 that reduced the DAG size to allow 4 GB GPUs to continue mining ETC.

When did the Thanos hard fork occur?

The fork was activated in November 2020.

Do I need to update my mining software after the Thanos fork?

Yes, most mining software released updated versions to support the new DAG epoch. Using outdated versions may result in invalid shares or errors.

Can I still mine Ethereum Classic with a 4 GB GPU after Thanos?

Yes, that was the primary goal of the upgrade. 4 GB cards can mine ETC productively after this fork.

How did the Thanos fork affect ETC's hash rate?

The hash rate increased significantly — from around 3 TH/s to over 30 TH/s — as miners moved their GPUs to ETC.