Ethereum
The second largest cryptocurrency and platform for smart contracts and DeFi.
Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized blockchain platform launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin. Unlike Bitcoin which is mainly a store of value, Ethereum is a programmable blockchain — a platform on which applications can be built.
Ethereum ecosystem:
•DeFi protocols — Uniswap, Aave, Curve, MakerDAO
•NFT markets — OpenSea, Blur
•Layer 2 solutions — Arbitrum, Optimism, Base
•Staking — 32 ETH for a validator node, ~4% APY
Fees on the Ethereum network (gas fees) are paid in ETH and vary depending on network congestion.
The Merge (2022): Ethereum switched from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake, reducing energy consumption by 99.95%.