Glossary
Ethereum
A public ledger that can run small programs, not only a simple coin ledger.
Ethereum ETHCached $2,420.85 ▲ +4.64% · 24h
Bitcoin is mostly a ledger of coins. Ethereum adds a way to run programs — smart contracts — on that shared computer. Ether is the native asset used to pay for that computation.
Fees, staking, layer 2s, and tokens all sit on top of that design. “Ethereum” in a headline might mean the price of ether, an app, or a company using the word. Ask which.
See also
- GasThe fee paid to include a transaction on a busy network, priced like an auction.
- Proof of stakeAgreement by locking coins, not by burning electricity on hash puzzles.
- Smart contractA program on a ledger that runs when someone pays to call it.
- EtherThe native asset of Ethereum, used to pay for computation. Not the same word as Ethereum.
