Poloniex and MEXC began trading ETHW and ETHS tokens in anticipation of Ethereum updates. And BitMEX launched trading in futures contracts.

Three crypto exchanges have supported trading of tokens that may become available after hardfork Ethereum. Last week, Poloniex and MEXC announced the launch of ETHS and ETHW trading. And on August 8, BitMEX launched a futures product based on ETHPoW tokens.

Poloniex and MEXC allow Ethereum holders to exchange their cryptocurrency for ETHS and ETHW at a 1:1 ratio. These tokens function like derivatives and allow users to trade blockchain assets that have yet to launch.

On these exchanges, ETHS trades at a price close to Ethereum, while ETHW is much cheaper and trades in the $125-130 range.

In case two blockchains are formed. Then these exchanges will support the holders of both tokens.

If the ETH 2.0 update is completed without a blockchain fork. The cryptocurrency will keep its previous name ETH. In this case, Poloniex and MEXC will suspend and exclude ETHS, ETHW and related markets.

Our experts also noted that сryptocurrency exchange Binance has also announced that it will consider supporting new Ethereum tokens. Binance team has announced support for the upcoming Ethereum update. However, it warned that all new hardfork tokens will undergo the same strict verification process before listing on Binance as any other coin.

Our experts have analyzed possible changes in ETH price. And paid attention to factors which can lead to growth or decline of ETH in the near future.

Our experts believe that of all cryptocurrencies, Ethereum will make maximum profit by the end of this year. We predict 4 possible scenarios for ETH price as of March 31, 2023. In these possible scenarios, we consider two factors. These are the change in Fed rates and the Ethereum “Merger” ( blockchain’s transition to a new protocol) planned for September.

Scenario 1: Fed reversal (change of regulator’s policy towards lower key rate) and successful “Merger” of Ethereum. according to our experts, this is most likely scenario, with the target price of ETH at $5,000.

Scenario 2: Fed does not change policy, but ETH “Merger” is successful. In this case, expected price of cryptocurrency is about $3,560

Scenario 3: Fed does not change policy, “Merger” of ETH goes unsuccessfully. In such a case, we forecast a price equal to recent lows around $1,000.

Scenario 4: There is a reversal of Fed policy, with the “Merger” failing (ETH network will continue to operate as it does today). In this case, the price of ETH will be $1.6k.

There are all preconditions for these scenarios, but there is no guarantee that it will happen.

At this moment, both futures curves, money markets, and surveys of leading economists are signaling that the key rate hike will peak in December and January, and the start of FED policy easing will begin in March at best.

FED will raise rates in September by 0.75% and the market will refocus its expectations for a peak rate hike in March 2023. In that case, Ethereum could hold in a $1K-$1.7K range closer to a lower line.

Only after that by the end of the year a Merger factor will be triggered. And there will be prospects for the end of the cycle of tightening of monetary policy. And more headlines about Web3 and ETH will start to appear in the media. Then there will be more reasons to realize optimistic scenarios with Ethereum price returning to $3.5k – $5k.

Crypto-Upvotes experts told about investments in ETC and estimated probability of miners’ transition to Ethereum Classic mining

Cryptocurrency Ethereum Classic (ETC) shows significant growth. Having risen by 45% in the last month alone. On July 28, ETH reached $34, gaining more than 23% in one day. Ethereum Classic is currently ranked 20th in cryptocurrency capitalization at $4.61 billion with a daily trading volume of $5.26 billion.

Rise in price of coin began after announcement that main Ethereum network will switch to new operation protocol (Proof-of-Stake) at the end of September. This transition will mean the end of ETH mining. Due to this event, and because Ethereum Classic blockchain uses the same mining algorithm. All ETH miners can start migrating to ETC.

Ethereum Classic cryptocurrency appeared in 2016 as a result of a hard fork of main Ethereum network. Because reason for blockchain forking was hacking of DAO investment project. And the theft of about 3.6 million Ethereums from it, which at that time amounted to about $60 million. Developers of Ethereum Foundation project conducted a blockchain split to compensate for losses.

Interest of big players grows in ETC

Ethereum Classic began to appreciate after announcement that ETH will switch to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) in fall. Ethereum Classic will remain its only major blockchain with smart contracts after main network switches to a different algorithm. Which run on classic PoW and Ethash mining algorithm.

Miners will migrate to the ETC network because of specific ASIC chips. Migration of miners will theoretically strengthen security of Ethereum Classic network, which has been attacked several times. Developers of fork are counting on growing interest of smart contract owners, who will not want to migrate to PoS.

ETC has been showing growth for the last few days. It is very likely that the volumes we are now seeing from the big players and companies. Who are buying up the asset in order to further hold on to it.

Our Crypto-Upvotes experts have noticed that mining pool Antpool. Which is affiliated with mining equipment maker Bitmain. It has invested $10 million in Ethereum Classic ecosystem. It also intends to accept accept ETC for payment for its products. Our experts say that in bull market ETC price with support of corporations can go up to $100+.

What will be effect of Ethereum move to POS for ETC

For holders of large scale crypto farms, ” classic” PoW algorithm is more profitable. Than new PoS, to which Ethereum main network is migrating. Traders take into account in their estimates of cryptocurrency that transition to PoS in Ethereum Classic is not planned and mining in this system will be profitable for all major mining players.

It’s too early to talk about mass transition of miners from Ethereum to Ethereum Classic. But interest in ETC has clearly emerged. This is evidenced by the local maximum hash rate of Ethereum Classic network. In any case, the vast majority of GPU miners will stay on ETH until its transition to PoS.

Ethereum and Ethereum Classic mining has clear advantages over BTC mining. Because net profits are higher due to lower power costs compared to ASIC equipment, especially during a bear market.