The Ethereum price today is $2,573.16 USD**, with a 24-hour trading volume of **$19.46 billion USD. ETH has remained stable (±0.00%) over the past 24 hours. The circulating supply of ETH is 120.72 million tokens.
What Is Ethereum?
Ethereum is an open-source software platform that uses Ether (ETH) as its native currency. It enables the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps) without third-party interference, fraud, or central control.
Built on blockchain technology, Ethereum is a Turing-complete programming language that has empowered developers to create and deploy assets, applications, and decentralized services. Currently, Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and the most widely used blockchain platform globally.
A Brief History of Ethereum
Ethereum was first introduced in a 2013 whitepaper by Vitalik Buterin, proposing a blockchain network supporting smart contracts and cryptocurrency issuance without needing independent blockchains.
The Ethereum blockchain launched in 2015 following an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) that raised $18.3 million USD in BTC. Since then, Ethereum has undergone significant upgrades, including transitioning from Proof-of-Work (PoW)—which relies on computational power—to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) to enhance scalability.
How Does Ethereum Work?
Ethereum pioneered blockchain-based smart contracts, allowing two parties to define transaction terms without intermediaries. Users pay network fees (called "gas") in Ether (ETH).
Beyond smart contracts, Ethereum supports other cryptocurrencies (tokens) via the ERC-20 standard, making it a versatile ecosystem for decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, NFTs, and more.
What Is Ethereum Used For?
ETH is used primarily for:
- Paying transaction fees ("gas") for network usage.
- Powering DApps—decentralized applications running on Ethereum.
- Token creation—issuing new crypto assets via ERC-20.
Emerging use cases include:
👉 DeFi (Decentralized Finance)—lending, borrowing, and trading without banks.
👉 NFTs—digital ownership verification for art, collectibles, and more.
👉 Play-to-earn games—blockchain-based gaming economies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Are the Differences Between Ethereum and Bitcoin?
| Feature | Ethereum (ETH) | Bitcoin (BTC) |
|----------|---------------|--------------|
| Purpose | Smart contracts & DApps | Digital currency |
| Consensus | Proof-of-Stake (PoS) | Proof-of-Work (PoW) |
| Supply | No hard cap (~120M ETH) | Capped at 21M BTC |
How High Can ETH’s Price Go?
ETH’s value depends on network adoption, DeFi growth, and upgrades (e.g., Ethereum 2.0). Analysts project long-term potential based on utility-driven demand.
How Many ETH Tokens Exist?
The current supply is ~120.72M ETH. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum has no fixed maximum supply, but annual issuance is capped.
Where Can I Buy ETH?
Purchase ETH on:
- Cryptocurrency exchanges (e.g., Crypto.com, Binance).
- Peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms.
- Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) like Uniswap.
How Does the Ethereum Network Function?
Ethereum relies on nodes validating transactions via PoS. Developers pay gas fees to execute smart contracts, prioritizing network security and scalability.
Which Wallet Supports ETH Storage?
Use:
- Hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor).
- Software wallets (MetaMask, Trust Wallet).
- Exchange wallets (for trading).
By optimizing Ethereum’s technology and ecosystem, ETH continues to drive innovation in blockchain, DeFi, and Web3. Stay updated with real-time ETH price trends and network developments!