ETH

Ethereum

Last updated Aug 30, 2026

A world computer that runs financial apps, not just money.

Live price

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Launched: 2015
Consensus: Proof of Stake
Settlement: Seconds, finalized in minutes
Supply: No hard cap; issuance + burns
Job: Smart contracts

What it is

Ethereum is a programmable blockchain. Bitcoin mostly records transfers. Ethereum can run code — smart contracts — that automatically move value when conditions are met. That is the foundation of decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and thousands of on-chain apps.

ETH is the fuel

Every action on Ethereum costs gas, paid in ETH. When the network is busy, gas goes up. Layer-2 networks (Optimism, Arbitrum, Base, and others) batch activity to make everyday use cheaper. The native asset, ETH, is used for gas, staking, and as collateral across DeFi.

Proof of Stake

In 2022 Ethereum merged from energy-heavy mining to Proof of Stake. Validators lock ETH to propose and attest to blocks. You can stake ETH yourself or through a service — both come with lockups, slashing risk, and counterparty risk if you use a third party. Read the fine print.

What beginners get wrong

Signing a wallet transaction is not like logging into a website. A malicious contract can drain tokens you approved. Infinite token approvals, fake airdrop sites, and lookalike dapps are how people lose ETH. Read what you sign. Revoke unused approvals.

Not financial advice. Knowing a ledger is not the same as buying the asset.

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