The price of Ethereum (ETH) is $2,549.72**, reflecting a **-3.10% decrease** over the last 30 days, with **$17.84 billion in 24-hour trading volume.
- 52-Week Range: The highest price of ETH in the last year was $4,089.23**, while the lowest was **$1,398.62.
- Hypothetical Investment: A $10 weekly investment in ETH over the past 12 months would yield **$515.02, a -0.96% return**.
- Recent Volatility: In the last 24 hours, ETH decreased by -1.72%, with prices ranging between $2,532.13** and **$2,630.57.
With a circulating supply of 120,717,083 ETH, Ethereum’s market cap stands at $307.79 billion, ranking #2 among cryptocurrencies.
👉 Track real-time ETH price movements
What Is Ethereum?
Ethereum (ETH or Ether) is a decentralized blockchain platform conceived by Vitalik Buterin in 2013 and launched in 2015. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily functions as digital currency, Ethereum enables:
- Smart contracts: Self-executing agreements with coded terms.
- Decentralized applications (dApps): Open-source software running without intermediaries.
- Decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and DAOs.
Dubbed the "World Computer," Ethereum powers a trustless ecosystem where finance, governance, and ownership are transparent and borderless.
Key Founders:
- Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum’s primary architect).
- Joseph Lubin (ConsenSys founder).
- Gavin Wood (Polkadot creator).
- Charles Hoskinson (Cardano founder).
Why Is Ethereum Important?
Ethereum is the backbone of Web3, supporting:
- 4,000+ projects and 53 million smart contracts.
- DeFi protocols (e.g., Aave, Uniswap).
- NFT marketplaces (e.g., OpenSea).
- DAOs (decentralized organizations).
In 2022, Ethereum transitioned from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS), reducing energy consumption by 99.95%. The 2024 Dencun upgrade further improved scalability via proto-danksharding, lowering Layer 2 transaction costs.
👉 Explore Ethereum’s official guide
How Does Ethereum Work?
1. Blockchain Technology
- A public ledger records all transactions.
- Decentralized nodes validate data (no single authority).
- Immutable: Once added, data cannot be altered.
2. Smart Contracts & dApps
- Self-executing code eliminates intermediaries.
- Hosted on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) for consistency.
3. Proof-of-Stake (PoS)
- Validators stake ETH to propose/verify blocks.
- Earn rewards for honest validation; lose stake for fraud.
4. Gas Fees
- Payment for computational work.
- Layer 2 solutions (e.g., Optimism) reduce fees.
5. Wallets
- Tools like MetaMask store private keys.
- Enable interactions with dApps.
Ethereum Roadmap & Upgrades
Major Upgrades:
- The Merge (2022): Transitioned to PoS.
- The Surge (2024–2025): Aims for 100,000 TPS via blobs and PeerDAS.
- The Scourge: Reduces centralization in block-building.
- The Verge: Introduces stateless clients for lighter nodes.
- The Purge: Cuts historical data storage needs.
- The Splurge: Optimizes EVM and fee mechanics.
Impact on Gas Fees: Upgrades like Dencun have already reduced Layer 2 fees by 10x.
Real-World Use Cases
1. DeFi
- Lending/Borrowing: Platforms like Aave.
- DEXs: Uniswap for peer-to-peer trading.
2. NFTs & DAOs
- Digital ownership: OpenSea for art/collectibles.
- Community governance: DAOs for decentralized decisions.
FAQs
1. What is Ethereum?
A blockchain platform for smart contracts and dApps, beyond just currency.
2. How is Ethereum different from Bitcoin?
Bitcoin = digital gold. Ethereum = programmable "World Computer."
3. What are gas fees?
Transaction costs on Ethereum, influenced by network demand.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency investments are volatile. Conduct your own research and consult a financial advisor.