Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that powers smart contracts and enables a wide range of Web3 applications, from DeFi to NFTs. More
| Fully Diluted Valuation | $536.98B |
|---|---|
| 24H Trading Volume | $18.98B |
| 24H Low / High | $4.31 K / $ 4.46 K |
| Circulating Supply | 120.71 M |
| Total Supply | 120.71 M |
| Max Supply | ∞ |
| Categories | Alameda Research Portfolio 13 more |
|---|---|
| Founder | Vitalik Buterin |
| Website | ethereum.org |
| Socials | 7 more |
| Explorer | Tokenview 6 more |
| Name | Pair | OG Score |
|---|
Ethereum: The Foundation of Programmable Blockchain
Ethereum is a pioneering blockchain platform designed for smart contracts, serving as the bedrock for decentralized applications (dApps) and powered by its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH). Launched in 2015 after a 2014 public presale, Ethereum expanded upon Bitcoin’s foundational vision of decentralization by introducing programmable contracts, forever changing the scope of blockchain technology.
At its core, Ethereum enables the creation and execution of self-executing smart contracts and dApps. This innovation was largely propelled by the introduction of Solidity, Ethereum's high-level programming language. Solidity allowed developers, for the first time, to write complex, Turing-complete logic directly onto a blockchain, inspiring countless projects and setting a new standard for Web3 development. The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), the runtime environment for smart contracts, ensures these applications are secure and interoperable across the network.
Ethereum's groundbreaking architecture set a new paradigm for blockchain innovation, leading to the proliferation of EVM-compatible chains. As of August 2025, over 226 EVM-compatible chains exist, including Layer 2 rollups built on Ethereum and various independent blockchain clones. Notable chains that followed Ethereum's lead, such as BNB Chain and Polygon (formerly Matic), demonstrate its profound influence on the multi-chain landscape.
The Ethereum network is in a state of continuous evolution, marked by significant upgrades. Key milestones include Constantinople, Istanbul, and London, culminating in the monumental “The Merge.” This pivotal transition replaced Ethereum’s energy-intensive proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism with a more sustainable and secure proof-of-stake (PoS) system, dramatically enhancing the network's efficiency and scalability.
Ethereum’s versatile platform fuels a vast array of Web3 use cases. It stands as the premier hub for decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and metaverse projects, driving one of the largest and most active blockchain ecosystems today.
Often referred to as “ultrasound money” due to deflationary mechanisms introduced by protocol updates like EIP-1559, Ethereum's intrinsic value is shaped not only by market dynamics but, crucially, by its expanding adoption and the ever-growing application of its underlying blockchain technology. Ethereum remains a central and indispensable force in the rapidly evolving crypto landscape.
Ethereum is the first widely adopted decentralized blockchain network to support smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Its ability to enable programmable contracts has driven innovation across industries such as decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and the broader Web3 ecosystem. Powered by the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), Ethereum introduced DeFi to the world, sparking many groundbreaking ideas that continue to evolve through regular platform upgrades.
Ethereum was introduced by Vitalik Buterin, Gavin Wood, Charles Hoskinson, Anthony Di Iorio, and Joseph Lubin. Among them, Charles Hoskinson left early to found Cardano, and Anthony Di Iorio stepped back from active Ethereum development to pursue other ventures. Vitalik Buterin remains the leading figure in Ethereum’s development, while Gavin Wood left to create Polkadot but still influences the broader Web3 space. Joseph Lubin continues to support Ethereum through his company ConsenSys, which builds infrastructure and applications within the Ethereum ecosystem.
As of August 2025, Ethereum continues to demonstrate a robust and exceptionally active development community on GitHub. Key statistics underscore its position as a leading blockchain ecosystem:
Ethereum has attracted significant backing from leading investment firms and venture capital funds. Notable supporters include Andreessen Horowitz, Pantera Capital, Multicoin Capital, Galaxy, Paradigm, Delphi Digital, Digital Currency Group (DCG), LD Capital, Hashed Fund, CMT Digital, Electric Capital, Kenetic Capital, Jump Capital, Fabric Ventures, Maven 11 Capital, Union Square Ventures, Boost VC, 1confirmation, KR1, SNZ Holding, Placeholder Ventures, Outlier Ventures, Winklevoss Capital, 8 Decimal Capital, M31 Capital, as well as notable individual investors like George Burke, Karnika Yashwant, and Kenneth Bok. This broad and diverse support network has played a crucial role in Ethereum’s growth and ecosystem development.
Ethereum uses a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, which replaced the energy-intensive proof-of-work (PoW) system after "The Merge" in September 2022. In PoS, validators are selected to create new blocks and confirm transactions based on the amount of ETH they lock up, or “stake,” as collateral. This system drastically reduces energy consumption compared to PoW, where miners competed to solve complex mathematical puzzles using powerful hardware.
To become a validator and run a full node, users must stake a minimum of 32 ETH. Validators are incentivized to act honestly because malicious behavior can result in the loss of their staked ETH. PoS improves Ethereum’s security, scalability, and efficiency while allowing participants to earn rewards for validating transactions. Overall, Ethereum’s PoS consensus supports a more sustainable, secure, and decentralized blockchain network.
You can buy Ethereum (ETH) on Binance, MEXC, Gate.ioBitgetBybit cryptocurrency exchanges.
