What is Ethereum? An introduction to ETH

You may have heard the analogy that if Bitcoin is crypto gold, then Ethereum is crypto silver. But there’s more to it than that. 

Ethereum has become the second largest cryptocurrency by volume and market capitalization due to its use cases and ability to solve real-world problems.

This article will explore the history of the Ethereum blockchain, the smart contract token that powers it, and where you can buy and spend ETH.

What is Ethereum?

Ethereum is a blockchain and cryptocurrency that allows developers to write and run decentralized applications, also known as dApps, for use cases that include finance, cloud computing, messaging and distributed governance. Ether (ETH) is the token used as fuel (or gas) for the Ethereum blockchain, and powers its smart contracts.

By using the Ethereum network, you can create a contract, and the network will automatically execute the transaction if all the conditions are met.

For example, you could use the Ethereum network to pay your monthly rent or pay an employee their wages. In this scenario, you'd set the conditions so that a recurring amount would be transferred from one party to another when a certain date is reached.

As long as the conditions are met, then the funds would be automatically sent on the agreed date in accordance with the contract. The entire process is verified on the Ethereum blockchain.

Did you know? You can pay with Ethereum

Why was Ethereum created?

Vitalik Buterin, a Canadian-Russian programmer, wanted to capitalize on the potential that Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer decentralized exchange delivered to the world. Since Bitcoin already allowed two users to exchange crypto without the need of a middleman, Vitalik wanted to extend blockchain technology to include peer-to-peer payment agreements or contracts.

If people could now decide to exchange items of value anywhere and any time in the world without a middleman, why couldn’t they then write their own conditional value to their agreements?

This is where the idea for the Ethereum network was born, complimenting decentralized finance to include digital, enforceable agreements, also known as smart contracts.

What is Ethereum used for?

In traditional contracts that require a third party, the use of a middle man can be expensive and time-consuming. Ethereum significantly reduces the cost and time of such contracts by eliminating the middleman.

With ETH, smart contracts can be coded directly into the Ethereum network. This means that the middleman associated with smart contracts is the code itself, which will either be executed or not.

The Ethereum blockchain handles all aspects of any contract written on the platform, including enforcement and payment. If all conditions are met, then the contract will be executed and the exchange will occur. If all conditions are not met, then the contract will not be validated, and thus not occur.

Ethereum is also used quite frequently in DeFi in decentralized applications (dApps). Some examples of dApp use cases include finance, gaming, social media, advertising, and governance. 

In addition, Ethereum blockchain technology allows for greater protection of personal data, which is not stored on a central server, as it is with traditional marketplaces.

How can you spend Ether?

Ether tokens can be held in a wallet, traded, or used to interact with decentralized applications, such as smart contracts.

Ether can also be used to buy NFTs (non-fungible tokens) since most NFT marketplaces largely accept ETH as the primary token for purchase.

The purchasing process for NFTs is in itself a contract: when you buy an NFT with ETH, you are depositing your crypto, and if the agreed-upon conditions are met, you will receive your desired digital collectible.

The full power of the Ethereum blockchain can be harnessed through parallel projects using Chainlink (LINK), the token that connects smart contracts with the real world data conditions that power them.

How to buy Ethereum

You can buy Ethereum (ETH) via MoonPay or through any of our partner wallet applications with a credit card, bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and many other payment methods.

Just enter the amount of ETH you wish to purchase and follow the steps to complete your order.

You can also top up your wallet in euros, pounds, or dollars and use your MoonPay Balance to purchase crypto like Ethereum (ETH). Then, simply transact for cheaper and faster ETH transactions with higher approval rates. Plus, enjoy zero-fee withdrawals directly to your bank account when you decide to cash out.

How to sell Ethereum

MoonPay also makes it easy to sell Ethereum when you decide it's time to cash out. Simply enter the amount of ETH you'd like to sell and enter the details where you want to receive your funds.

Swap Ethereum for more tokens

Want to exchange Ethereum for other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin? MoonPay allows you to swap crypto cross-chain with no processing fees, directly from your non-custodial wallet.