Blockchain profile
Ethereum ETH
Ethereum is a major programmable blockchain that runs smart contracts and supports many DeFi, NFT, wallet and crypto application tools tracked by traders.
Neutral information, not financial advice. Updated : 2026-06-03
Key characteristics
- Native asset: ETH, used to pay transaction fees and participate in network security through staking.
- Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM): a smart-contract execution environment widely reused by other networks.
- Modular ecosystem: the main network coexists with layer-2 solutions designed to increase capacity and reduce some costs.
Use cases and ecosystem
- DeFi: decentralized exchanges, lending, stablecoins, liquidity products and on-chain dashboards.
- NFTs and on-chain identity: collections, ENS names, attestations and wallet interactions.
- Developer infrastructure: token standards, oracles, analytics tools, explorers and smart-contract frameworks.
Consensus and security
Ethereum runs on proof of stake. Validators stake ETH to propose and attest blocks, with penalties for invalid behavior.
Fees and performance
Fees depend on blockspace demand and the EIP-1559 mechanism. Mainnet costs can remain high during peaks, while layer-2 networks often offer lower fees.