Find out how to buy Ethereum Classic, and learn about the best platforms that have the lowest fees, and what’s easiest for beginners.
Often referred to as ‘Ethereum’s First Born, it retains the original chain on which the current Ethereum blockchain was forked. It has performed well in the past and consistently ranked among the 30 most valuable cryptos.
By the end of this guide, you will have gained a deeper understanding of what it is and how it works. We will also look at its past price action and future forecasts. These should help you decide whether Ethereum Classic is worth buying in 2024. You will even learn how to buy your first ETC token on one of the best crypto exchanges.
How to Buy Ethereum Classic (ETC) – Quick Steps
Here is a simplified step-by-step guide to buying Ethereum Classic tokens in 2024. This is a multi-asset and multi-regulated brokerage with a solid reputation for reliability and safety. Here, you can start buying cryptos like Ethereum classic or Bitcoin with $10.
- Step 1: Register a crypto account: Open the eToro website and hit the “Join Now” button. Complete the registration form and verify your identity. You also need to create a username and account password.
- Step 2: Deposit Funds: eToro currently supports all the popular payment methods. These include PayPal, eWallets like Skrill, credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, and ACH transfers. Use either of these to fund our account with at least $10.
- Step 3: Search for Ethereum Classic: Key in the term “Ethereum Classic” or its ticker symbol on “ETC” on the search bar on the eToro home page. Then, hit the “Trade” icon that pops up.
- Step 4: Buy ETC Coins : A trading tab will pop up. Use it to customize this investment by indicating how much you intend to invest in Ethereum Classic. Hit the “Open Trade” button to execute this trade.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No EU investor protection.
Below, we will walk you through this crypto-buying guide in detail. Before then, we learn everything else you need to know about the Ethereum hard fork. First, we need to discuss the best crypt exchanges for beginners that support Ethereum Classic trading.
Where to Buy Ethereum Classic (ETC) Today
Ethereum Classic is one of the most promising cryptos. It is also hugely popular and these explain why it is supported by virtually all the popular crypto trading platforms. How then did we identify the best crypto exchanges for ETC investors?
We considered a number of factors. The weightiest were the crypto trading fees, safety, regulation and reputation, user-friendliness, and customer support. We also checked the crypto exchange’s liquidity, ease of depositing and withdrawing funds, and mobile friendliness.
Ultimately, we settled on these four as the best places to buy Ethereum Classic crypto in 2024.
1. eToro – The Overall Best Place to Buy Ethereum Classic In 2024
eToro started offering crypto trading services in 2013. It started with Bitcoin but later integrated 80+ more coins – including Ethereum Classic. In addition to hosting a decent crypto library, eToro has built up other core features that make it a top altcoin exchange. These start with guaranteeing deep liquidity, fast transaction processing speeds, and transparent pricing.
eToro has also built a reputation for reliability and safety. It has one of the highest uptimes on both its web trader and mobile trading app. It also provides all its platform users with two free and highly secure wallets.
The web wallet holds 90%+ of client assets in ultra-secure cold storage. The non-custodial mobile wallet app is also secure. Unlike the wallet apps offered by the likes of Coinbase, eToro Money has never been hacked. It is also secured by a strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and lets you whitelist addresses.
eToro is also the best place to buy Ethereum Classic because it presents you with multiple crypto investing methods. For starters, you can buy cryptos instantly on eToro. You can also copy-trade on the platform. This strategy appeals most to novice investors and involves copying trade strategies of the most successful investors.
Others factors making eToro the best include its affordability as you can buy ETC with $10. It is also easy to use. The platform even provides you with a free practice account with $10,000 in virtual funds. Not for getting that it is multi-asset, allowing for portfolio diversification.
- Invest passively on eToro via staking and copy trading
- Crypto trading fees are fixed at 1% of the trade volume
- eToro has a straightforward client onboarding process
- No broker commission for non-crypto trades
- Charges high non-trading fees – including a 0.5% crypto transfer fee
- You cannot deposit crypto into the eToro trading platform
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No EU investor protection.
2. KuCoin – The Best Crypto Exchange for Low Fees and Large Crypto Library
CoinMarketCap ranks KuCoin among the top 10 most liquid crypto exchanges. Much of this can be attributed to its large crypto library. Today, you can buy Ethereum Classic and 600+ other cryptos on KuCoin. It also has a launchpool that lets you invest in the next 100x cryptos before they are released to the general public.
In addition to liquidity, KuCoin is the best place to buy Ethereum Classic because of its low fees. This maker/taker fee ranges between -0.005% and 0.1%, depending on your 30-day trade volume. Investors also qualify for a 20% fee discount if you settle this fee using KCS coins.
They would also want to use KuCoin because it lets you stake Ethereum Classic and tens of other cryptos. You then stand to earn as much as 25% in annual interest for the staked amount. Other equally lucrative passive investing programs hosted on KuCoin include savings, liquidity mining, crypto lending, and dual investing.
However, there are several other factors that make KuCoin the best crypto exchange for Ethereum Classic investors. For starters, it is a safe exchange. It even provides with one of the best mobile wallet apps for iOS and Android – the Halo Wallet. Its web and mobile trading platforms are also rigged with advanced trading and analysis tools. Plus, you only need $2 to start buying cryptos on KuCoin.
- KuCoin appeals to all classes of investors – newbies, experts, and institutional investors
- You can buy popular NFTs on KuCoin
- Margin trade crypto derivatives with leverage of up to 100x
- Automate your trades on KuCoin with the many free trading bots hosted on the platform
- One may find its feature-rich platform overwhelming to newbies
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No EU investor protection.
3. Crypto.com – The Best Place to Buy Ethereum Classic for Beginners
Three core factors making Crypto.com the crypto exchange for beginners. First is its quick and straightforward account opening process. The second is its highly intuitive and easily navigable crypto trading platform. Lastly, newbies like Crypto.com’s quick and straightforward crypto buying process. Not forgetting that among the 300+ supported assets on its fold are some of the best cryptos for newbies.
Crypto.com’s beginner friendliness is further boosted by the many ways of buying ETH integrated here. You can, for example, use the many trading bots to automate your trades. You can also choose to invest passively through staking, crypto lending, or supercharger events. The annual return on these passive investing programs can be as high as 16% APR.
The exchange then maintains one of the most competitive fees for crypto trades. The volume-based maker/taker fee range between 0% and 0.075%. You also qualify for a fee discount of between 3% and 30% if you have staked CRO tokens.
Other factors helping it feature on this list include the fact that it supports crypto derivatives trading. We also liked that it presents users with a DeFi wallet. This exposes you to 500,000+ of the best DeFi coins and programs. It also caters to high-rollers and institutional investors with its OTC trading platform and even more competitive trading fees.
- Buy cryptos instantly with PayPal on Crypto.com
- A responsive support team is available over the phone and online
- Crypto.com is safe and updates its proof of reserves report by the minute
- Multi-platform exchange with one of the best crypto trading mobile apps
- Charges high withdrawal fees
4. Kraken – The Most Trustworthy and Deeply Liquid Crypto Exchange
Established in 2011, Kraken is the oldest and arguably the most reputable crypto exchange on this list. It is also the safest crypto exchange around as evidenced by the fact that it has never been hacked. Like all the best crypto trading platforms, Kraken presents you with a web wallet and the newly launched mobile wallet app. The exchange wallet holds more than 90% of your assets in offline vaults.
In addition to being safe, we liked Kraken because its platform appeals to all classes of investors. It lets newbies buy cryptos instantly with cards or account balances. Expert traders have the option of using the Kraken trading platform or Kraken PRO. Institutional investors and high rollers can, on the other hand, use the Kraken Darkpool – its OTC trading platform.
The cost of investing in Ethereum on Kraken varies depending on the buying strategy. If you buy cryptos instantly, you will be charged a fixed fee of 0.9% for stablecoins and 1.5% for regular cryptos. The cost of trading on the Kraken exchange is volume-based and ranges between 0% and 0.4%. Kraken PRO and platform users benefit from the most competitive trading fees.
You can also buy NFTs fee-free on the integrated NFT marketplace. You may also margin-trade crypto derivatives – futures and options – with leverages of up to 100x. Passive investing is only available to Kraken users outside the US and the exchange currently supports 19 digital assets.
- You only need $10 to start buying cryptos on Kraken, which supports card and bank deposits
- Customer support is available 24/7 online and over the phone
- Kraken is a multi-regulated crypto trading platform
- Its expansive education section teaches newbies how to invest in cryptos
- Its passive investing program will only support a limited number of crypto projects
What is Ethereum Classic (ETC)?
Ethereum Classic is the legacy chain of the Ethereum network. It is the original Ethereum, created by Vitalik Buterin and others and launched in July 2015. It would, however, come to be known and Ethereum Classic after a hacking event in 2016 that resulted in the loss of more than 3.6 million ETH tokens.
After the hack, The DAO couldn’t agree on whether to hard fork the blockchain to revert the impact of the hack. The majority agreed on a hard fork that birthed the current Ethereum network. The minority chose to remain on the original blockchain – which was renamed to Ethereum classic.
Therefore, it is safe to say that both Ethereum and Ethereum Classic seek to serve the same purpose. They were intended to create a decentralized platform where developers can create and launch smart contracts and dApps. However, the many developments made to the Ethereum network have overshadowed those of the Ethereum Classic chain and rendered its input to the crypto-verse insignificant.
Today, Ethereum Classic is viewed as a store of value. It is favored by fundamentalists who claim to uphold the immutable nature of the blockchain technology. ETC coins are the native tokens of this blockchain network.
Should I Buy Ethereum Classic (ETC)?
Ethereum Classic has performed exceptionally well in the past. During the 2021 crypto bull run, for example, it rallied by more than 3500% to set the current all-time high of $176. Today, the altcoin trades more than 85% below this price. But it already hinted at a rebound earlier in the year when the market was rallying. It, therefore, is safe to say that Ethereum Classic is one of the most promising cryptos to buy in this market cycle.
Here are a few more factors that make Ethereum Classic worth buying today:
It has proved to be resilient
Outside of crypto market dynamics, Ethereum Classic has suffered two major shocks. First was The DAO hack and the second was the hard Fork that tore Ethereum from the Ethereum Classic chain. It has survived both, which is a testament of its resilience. You may thus be safe to include on your list of the most sustainable cryptos out there.
Its ecosystem has been growing gradually
Even though overshadowed by Ethereum’s dynamicity and popularity, Ethereum Classic is still under development. These developments have helped create hype around the network and its ETC coin. As more popular dApps and smart contracts launch here, we expect them to drive ETC’s adoption and increase its price.
ETC has solid tokenomics
Ethereum Classic is still widely popular. It also has solid tokenomics, evidenced by its total circulating supply of only 210 million ETC tokens. This creates room for substantial value gain for ETC. This growth will be triggered not just by the upcoming bull market but also by the increased adoption of blockchain technology.
Ethereum Classic (ETC) Price History
Ethereum Classic’s price history traces back to August 2016, immediately after the hard fork. According to CoinMarketCap, it had an introductory price of $0.92.Interestingly, it has never dipped below that price to date. The launch coincided with the Bitcoin halving. This has historically proved to be the base of the next market rally.
Ethereum Classic, therefore, went on an accumulation phase through the last half of 2016. It stormed into 2017 trading well above $1. By June, less than year after its creation, ETC was up by more than 2500% to break above $25. Its biggest break would, however, come in the last half of that year when it rallied by a further 2000% to break above $45.
Like all other cryptos, ETC is obedient to market trends. Therefore, when the 2017 crypto market rally died, it underwent a downward price correction. The same thing happened between 2022 and 2023. In fact, this is the only major reason why ETC trades more than 85% below the 2021 highs of $176.
Ethereum Classic (ETC) Price Prediction
We have mentioned that the main thing currently preventing Ethereum Classic from blowing up is the bear market. However, after the Bitcoin ETF approval in January 2024, it started showing signs of recovery. It even rallied by close to 200% between December 2023 and March 2024.
Moving forward, the upcoming market rally brought about by Bitcoin halving is expected to fuel ETC’s rebound. But just how high can the Ethereum Classic price reach in the foreseeable future? Here is what some forecasters have to say:
Ethereum Classic price prediction 2024
The general consensus is that ETC prices will continue to rise in the foreseeable future. CoinPriceForecast.com indicates ETC could grow by at least 50% before December 2024 to break above $37. Forecasters at DigiatalCoinPrice.com and AMBCypto are, however, a tad more optimistic. They expect ETC to rally more than 200% and break above $50 before the end of the year.
Ethereum Classic price prediction 2025
DigitalCoinPrice.com isn’t too optimistic about ETC’s price performance in 2025. It doesn’t expect to break above $70. These sentiments are shared by PricePrediction.net and CoinPriceForecast.com. AMBCrypto, however, is wildly bullish about Ethereum Classic’s future and expects it to rally by more than 600% between now and December 2025.
Ways of Buying Ethereum Classic (ETC)
There are different ways of acquiring Ethereum Classic. Seeing that it still uses the proof-of-work consensus mechanism, you may result to mining the digital currency. In this section, though, we look at the most common ways of buying cryptos fronted by popular crypto trading platforms.
How to Buy Ethereum Classic with PayPal
PayPal currently allows its payment service users to buy cryptos directly on its website and app. At the time of writing, though, you can only buy Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, and PayPalUSD coins. It is yet to extend support for the original Ethereum chain.
For this reason, buying Ethereum Classic with PayPal first requires finding an exchange that accepts PayPal deposits. The more popular are eToro, Coinbase, and Crypto.com. Here, you can use PayPal to buy ETC coins instantly or to first make a fiat deposit to your trading account using PayPal.
One of the key benefits of using PayPal to buy ETC is that the deposit is processed instantly. It also charges comparatively low deposit processing fees. On the flip side, though, it charges relatively high currency conversion fees. Further, most exchanges do not accept PayPal deposits.
How to Buy Ethereum Classic with Credit Cards and Debit Cards
Virtually all the crypto exchanges we have discussed above will let you buy Ethereum Classic with cards. These are preferred because they are equally fast in payment processing. They also have decent maximum withdrawal limits. The only downside is that card providers often charge high payment processing fees.
How to Buy Ethereum Classic with a Bank Deposit
You can also buy Ethereum Classic with a bank deposit on arguably any crypto exchange. Virtually all popular exchanges accept bank wire or ACH transfers. Some, like eToro, don’t even have a maximum daily deposit limit. Further, banks are more accessible, which makes them a top choice for crypto exchanges.
Note, however, that banks charge relatively high deposit processing fees. They also take longer to process these payments, often leading to slippage. Plus, most exchanges – like eToro – have high minimum deposit limits for bank deposits – at $500.
How to Buy Ethereum Classic – A Beginner’s Guide
You now are familiar with the best crypto trading platforms that list Ethereum Classic tokens. In this section, we will walk you through the process of buying your first ETC coin on the all-popular eToro brokerage.
Step 1: Create an Account
Start by opening the official eToro.com website on your browser or download the eToro mobile trading app. On either platform, hit the “Join Now” icon and complete the user registration form that pops up. It will ask for your basic personal information, your trading experience, and income sources. You will then need to come up with a unique username and password for this account.
Step 2: Verify your Identity
The trader registration process on eToro is only considered complete after you have verified your identity. Simply submit a photo of your government-issued identification document, such as your passport or driver’s license.
Step 3: Deposit Funds
To fund the approved trader account, hit the “Deposit Funds” icon on your user dashboard. A funding tab will pop up indicating all the payment options available to you – based on your country of residence. Choose one and follow the prompts to deposit at least $10.
Step 4: Find Ethereum Classic
Once the payment is reflected in your trader account, hit the “Discover” icon on your user dashboard. You will be directed to a window indicating all the financial instruments available on eToro. Choose Crypto. A list of all supported digital assets will pop up – choose Ethereum Classic.
Step 5: Buy ETC Coins
Hit the “BUY” option against Ethereum Classic to bring the trading tab. Customize this trade by indicating how much you intend to invest in Ethereum Classic. Hit the “Open Trade” button to execute this investment.
Note: The ETC tokens you just purchased will be deposited into the exchange-provided web wallet. To transfer these coins to another wallet or exchange, first download and set up the eToro Money wallet app.
Conclusion – Buying Ethereum Classic Coins
Buying Ethereum Classic doesn’t have to be complicated. Its popularity and healthy price action makes it accessible and liquid as it is listed with all the top crypto exchanges. These have taken this a step further and presented you with multiple ways of investing in the original Ethereum chain. While the jury is out on its sustainability, it is clear that it is currently grossly undervalued, which makes it a good buy.
Looking for the best place to start buying Ethereum Classic? Follow the step-by-step guide to buying cryptos on eToro that we have outlined above.
Cryptoassets are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No EU investor protection.
References:
- https://ethereumclassic.org/
- https://coinmarketcap.com/rankings/exchanges/
- https://www.businessinsider.com/dao-hacked-ethereum-crashing-in-value-tens-of-millions-allegedly-stolen-2016-6?r=US&IR=T
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_DAO
- https://www.coindesk.com/consensus-magazine/2023/05/09/coindesk-turns-10-how-the-dao-hack-changed-ethereum-and-crypto/
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/04/bitcoin-price-at-100000-in-2024-crypto-execs-say-bull-run-has-begun.html
- https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/ethereum-classic/
FAQs on Where to Buy Ethereum Classic Coins
What is the best place to buy Ethereum Classic?
We recommend buying Ethereum Classic and other cryptos on eToro. The crypto brokerage is highly regulated and has a solid reputation for safety. It is also easy to use and allows you to buy crypto with as little as $10.
Will Ethereum Classic ever dethrone Ethereum?
It is highly improbable that Ethereum Classic will ever dethrone Ethereum either by the size of its ecosystem or market. To understand why it is almost impossible, you need to note that ETH's market cap is – at the time of writing – close to 80X larger than that of ETC.
Is Ethereum Classic worth buying right now?
Yes, the Ethereum classic is worth buying today because it is grossly undervalued. Like most other coins, it is expected to print a new all-time high during the next bull market cycle. This would mean growing its current value and your possible capital investment by more than 800%.
Which is better, Ethereum or Ethereum Classic?
Ethereum is a better and safer store of value than Ethereum Classic. It is also a better ecosystem for developers and users than Ethereum Classic, especially when you consider that it uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.
Is Ethereum Classic a good long-term investment?
Yes, Ethereum Classic is a good long-term investment because it is undervalued yet quite promising. You can expect its price to continue rising, driven not by developments in its ecosystem but by obedience to market trends.