$ETH
Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). It's the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and has a wide range of use cases. Here are some key aspects of Ethereum:
- Smart Contracts: Ethereum's core innovation is the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which enables the execution of smart contracts. These self-executing contracts automate various processes, such as asset transfer and management.
- Decentralized Applications (dApps): Ethereum's platform supports the development of dApps, which run on the blockchain and are free from central control.
- Tokens: Ethereum's ERC-20 standard has enabled the creation of numerous tokens, which are used for various purposes, such as governance, utility, and fundraising.
- Gas: Ethereum's network uses Gas, a measurement unit, to calculate the computational effort required to execute transactions and smart contracts.
- Ethereum 2.0: Ethereum is transitioning to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus algorithm, which aims to improve scalability, security, and sustainability.
- Use cases: Ethereum has various use cases, including:
› Decentralized finance (DeFi)
› NFTs (non-fungible tokens)
› Gaming
› Supply chain management
› Voting systems