The original intention was to make it memory-hard initially, the Ethash algorithm(https://www.cryptominerbros.com/blog...) needs a substantial amount of memory to run hashing processes. Its design was intended to be ASIC-resistant and to ensure a more equitable distribution of mining profits. For example, ASICs have the excellent computing power to surpass general-purpose computers like CPUs and GPUs however, their memory access is similar to GPUs.

With the technological advancements throughout the years we have now advanced ASICs which are precisely optimized to work with use with the Ethash algorithm. These ASICs are equipped with high rate of hashing and efficiency in energy, allowing miners to tackle complex cryptographic problems successfully within the specified time frame and to mine Ethereum Classic (ETC) coins.