ERC

ERC is an acronym with multiple meanings across technology, government, and business. Its specific sense depends on context and geographic region.

In blockchain and cryptocurrency, ERC commonly stands for "Ethereum Request for Comments." It denotes a proposal system for standards and conventions on the Ethereum platform. Numbered ERCs define interfaces and behaviors for smart contracts and tokens; notable examples include ERC-20, a widely adopted standard for fungible tokens, and ERC-721, a standard for non-fungible tokens (NFTs). ERC proposals are discussed by the developer community and implemented by client software and smart contracts.

In European research policy, ERC refers to the European Research Council, an independent funding body established in 2007 to support investigator-driven frontier research across the European Union and associated countries. The ERC awards competitive grants to individual researchers and teams based on scientific excellence, aiming to stimulate high-quality research and attract talent to Europe.

In United States tax policy, ERC is used for the Employee Retention Credit, a temporary payroll tax credit introduced in 2020 to incent employers to retain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic; its rules and eligibility criteria evolved through subsequent legislation in 2020–2021.

Other uses of the acronym include emergency response center, economic research council, and organizational or technical committees. Determining the intended meaning of ERC requires attention to the surrounding subject matter.