Ethereum
Ethereum is the second-largest blockchain and the first "world computer": a platform where anyone can deploy programs — smart contracts — that run exactly
Ethereum is the second-largest blockchain and the first “world computer”: a platform where anyone can deploy programs — smart contracts — that run exactly as written. Its native currency is ether (ETH), and it’s now secured by proof-of-stake.
Why it matters
Ethereum turned blockchains from money ledgers into programmable platforms, spawning DeFi, tokens, and dApps. Because so much value settles on it, its decentralization quality — validators, stake distribution, and client diversity — shapes the whole ecosystem.
Related terms
blockchain ·
smart contract · gas