Ethereum News & Guides
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Ethereum is a programmable blockchain that allows developers to build and deploy decentralised applications. Unlike Bitcoin, which was designed primarily as a currency, Ethereum is a platform for running code – making it the foundation of DeFi, NFTs, and Web3.

ETH is the native currency of the Ethereum network. It is used to pay gas fees for every transaction or smart contract interaction. ETH can also be staked to help secure the network and earn rewards, and it is used as collateral across many DeFi protocols.

Ethereum was proposed by Vitalik Buterin in 2013 and launched in 2015. It has eight co-founders in total, including Gavin Wood, Charles Hoskinson, and Joseph Lubin. Vitalik Buterin remains the most prominent public figure associated with Ethereum today.

Gas fees are the cost of executing transactions or running smart contracts on Ethereum. They are paid in ETH and vary depending on network congestion. When demand is high, fees rise. After EIP-1559, a portion of each fee is permanently burned, reducing the total ETH supply over time.

Smart contracts are programs stored on the Ethereum blockchain that execute automatically when predefined conditions are met. They require no middleman – once deployed, they run exactly as written. They are the building blocks of DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and most Ethereum-based applications.

The Merge was Ethereum’s transition from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake, completed on September 15, 2022. It eliminated the need for energy-intensive mining and reduced Ethereum’s energy consumption by over 99%. Validators now secure the network by staking ETH instead of using hardware.

This is not financial advice. Ethereum, like all cryptocurrencies, is a high-risk asset with significant price volatility. Before making any investment decision, conduct your own research, understand the risks involved, and consider consulting a licensed financial adviser in your jurisdiction.