The programmable blockchain — home of DeFi, NFTs, and smart contracts

Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that allows developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Its native token, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for computation ("gas") on the network. Ethereum transitioned from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake in September 2022 ("The Merge"), making it ~99.9% more energy efficient.

How It Works

Ethereum's Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) executes smart contract code across all nodes simultaneously, ensuring every node agrees on the outcome. Developers write contracts in Solidity or Vyper; once deployed, they run exactly as written without downtime or censorship. Gas fees, paid in ETH, compensate validators for computation. EIP-1559 (2021) introduced a base fee burn mechanism, making ETH deflationary during periods of high activity.

Why It Matters for Investors

Ethereum hosts the largest ecosystem of DeFi protocols (Uniswap, Aave, Compound), stablecoins (USDC, DAI), and NFT marketplaces. The network processes over one million transactions per day. Layer-2 networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base extend Ethereum's capacity while inheriting its security — dramatically expanding what's possible without congesting the main chain.

TRUE AI & Ethereum

TRUE AI monitors Ethereum gas prices, Layer-2 TVL flows, validator activity, and major protocol metrics in real-time. Whether you're deciding when to bridge to an L2 or assessing ETH's staking yield, TRUE AI can provide data-driven guidance instantly.

Try This Prompt in TRUE AI

"Compare Ethereum Layer-2 networks — which offers the best combination of fees, security, and ecosystem size for a DeFi user?"

Related Terms

DeFiSolanaStakingTechnical Analysis

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