Ethereum (ETH)
coin · blockchain · platform · smart contract
Ethereum is a proof-of-stake smart contract blockchain; ETH is its native asset used for gas, staking, and settlement.
- Also known as
- Ethereum (ETH), Ether
1.network
Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain designed to run smart contracts and decentralized applications. It uses an account-based state model and the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to execute contract code deterministically across the network.
2.eth
ETH, or ether, is Ethereum's native asset. It is used to pay gas fees, stake validators, settle value, and interact with DeFi, NFT, and DAO applications.
3.consensus
Ethereum launched with proof of work and moved to proof of stake during The Merge in 2022. Validators now propose and attest to blocks by staking ETH, and malicious behavior can be penalized through slashing.
4.scaling
Ethereum's base layer has bounded gas and data capacity, so high demand can raise transaction fees. Its scaling roadmap uses rollups and data-availability improvements to execute more activity on layer-2 systems while publishing data, commitments, or proofs to Ethereum according to each rollup's design.
Related terms
Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)
→The EVM is the deterministic runtime that executes smart contract bytecode on Ethereum and EVM-compatible networks.
eth · platform · smart contract
Proof of Stake (PoS)
→A family of consensus mechanisms in which validators commit stake to propose, attest to, and finalize blocks.
consensus · blockchain
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