Ethereum Classic Halving Dates: ETC 2026 “Fifthening” Emission Cut

Ethereum Classic halving dates (ETC “fifthening”) outline how Ethereum Classic reduces block rewards over time. Unlike Bitcoin’s 50% halving, ETC cuts rewards by 20% every 5,000,000 blocks (5M20 monetary policy), a more gradual supply-shock schedule. Key historical Ethereum Classic halving milestones: Dec 2017 (Era 2) reward to 4 ETC; Mar 2020 (Era 3) to 3.2 ETC; Apr 2022 (Era 4) to 2.56 ETC; and May 30–Jun 11, 2024 (Era 5) to 2.048 ETC. The next Ethereum Classic halving is expected around Aug–Oct 2026 (Era 6), when rewards should fall to about 1.6384 ETC per block. Further reductions are projected around 2028 (1.31072 ETC) and 2030 (1.048576 ETC). Why it matters for traders: the Ethereum Classic halving reduces inflation (the article cites a drop from ~4.26% to ~3.41% after the 2024 event), increases scarcity into ETC’s capped supply (~210.7M), and can pressure mining economics via lower miner income and potentially lower hash rate. The next step may also shift market psychology by signaling tighter long-run emissions, though price impact is expected to be less dramatic than Bitcoin due to the smoother 20% steps. Takeaway: the 2026 Ethereum Classic halving is a predictable, gradual tightening of issuance, which may support longer-horizon sentiment, but short-term price will still depend heavily on broader market conditions.