The currency
$ETC is an abbreviation for Ethereum Classic, a decentralized blockchain platform that enables the development and operation of smart contracts and decentralized applications
#DApps . The network was established after the split from the original Ethereum network in 2016 due to the hacking of what is known as 'The Decentralized Autonomous Organization' (The DAO), where the original network adhered to the philosophy that 'code is law' and did not reverse the hack.