Ether and Ethereum
Ether and Ethereum are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they have substantial differences that need to be taken into account.
While Ethereum is the name of the blockchain platform on which several decentralized applications are built with their own ERC-20 tokens, Ether refers to the cryptocurrency that circulates through the network.
Therefore, Ether acts as a kind of fuel that helps ensure that the Ethereum network functions correctly and also drives the development of decentralized applications (DApps). It can also be used as a means of exchange, like other cryptocurrencies, and even as a store of value for those enthusiasts who believe in the development potential of the network.
As designated by its Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, new coins are still created whenever miners verify a new block of transactions, but the Ethereum project is on the verge of making an ambitious shift to a Proof of Stake (PoS) protocol called The Merge. From then on, the validation of transactions and subsequent issuance of new coins will be done through the participation of the network's own users who make their tokens available for this purpose.
Due to the multitude of applications already developed on its network, a wide variety of transaction fees and computational services can be paid using Ether, which can be easily found on the main cryptocurrency exchanges.
Currently, the token is the second largest crypto asset in the world by market capitalization, behind only Bitcoin.
