Ethereum

HOOK: Ethereum is the second-largest blockchain and the first &quot;world computer&quot;: a platform where anyone can deploy programs — smart contracts — that run exactly as written.
CORE CONCEPT: Why it matters Ethereum turned blockchains from money ledgers into programmable platforms, spawning DeFi, tokens, and dApps.
TAKEAWAY: Related terms blockchain · smart contract · gas

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