Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Fees do not influence the opinions or ratings of our editors.

Ethereum (ETH) is the second most popular cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. Founded by Vitalik Buterin and Gavin Wood in 2015, Ethereum’s market capitalization today represents approximately 20% of the $1.1 trillion global cryptocurrency market.

There are some distinct differences between Ethereum and the original cryptocurrency. Unlike Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum aims to be much more than just a medium of exchange or a store of value. Instead, Ethereum is a decentralized computing network built on blockchain technology.

Featured partner offers

Trading commissions

Maker Commission 0.4% / Taker Commission 0.6%.

What is Ethereum?

In the cryptocurrency’s own words, Ethereum is “a global, decentralized platform for money and new types of applications,” with thousands of financial games and apps running on the Ethereum blockchain. The cryptocurrency is so popular that other cryptocurrencies are also circulating on its network.

Central to Ethereum is its blockchain network. A blockchain it is a decentralized and distributed public ledger where transactions are verified and recorded.

It is distributed in the sense that all participants in the Ethereum network hold an identical copy of this ledger, allowing them to see all past transactions. It is decentralized in the sense that the network is not managed or managed by any centralized entity, but is managed by all distributed ledger holders.

Blockchain transactions use cryptography to keep the network secure and verify transactions.

Ether, Ethereum’s native token, can be used to buy and sell goods and services just like Bitcoin. But the peculiarity of Ethereum is that users can create applications that “work” on the blockchain like software “works” on a computer. These applications can store and transfer personal data or handle complex financial transactions.

Ether and Ethereum: what’s the difference?

You can use Ether as a digital currency in financial transactions, as an investment, or as a store of value. Ethereum is the blockchain network where Ether is stored and traded. As mentioned above, this network offers a variety of other functions outside of ETH.

“These can be simple movements of funds, but they can also be complex transactions involving anything from exchanging goods to making a loan to acquiring a piece of digital art,” says Boaz Avital, head of product in Anchorage . Transactions are processed and stored on the Ethereum network.

The Ethereum network can also be used to store data and run decentralized applications. Instead of hosting the software on a server owned and operated by Google (GOOGLE) or Amazon (AMZN), where the sole company controls the data, people can host applications on the Ethereum blockchain. This gives users control over their data and open usage of the app as there is no central authority managing everything.

One of the most intriguing use cases involving Ethereum are self-executing contracts, or so-called smart contracts. Like any other contract, two parties agree to provide goods or services in the future. Unlike conventional contracts, lawyers are not needed: the parties codify the agreement on the Ethereum blockchain. Once the conditions of the contract are met, it self-executes and delivers Ether to the appropriate party.

Ethereum vs Bitcoin

Bitcoin’s primary use is as a virtual currency and store of value. Ether also functions as a virtual currency and store of value. But the Ethereum decentralized network also allows you to build and run applications, smart contracts, and other transactions on the network. Bitcoin does not offer these features.

Ethereum also processes transactions faster.

“New blocks are validated on the Bitcoin network once every 10 minutes, while new blocks are validated on the Ethereum network once every 12 seconds,” says Gary DeWaal, president of Katten’s Financial Markets and Regulation group. And future developments could further accelerate Ethereum transactions, he notes.

Finally, there is no limit to the number of potential Ether tokens, while Bitcoin will release no more than 21 million coins. Currently, Bitcoin has 19 million coins in circulation.

Advantages of Ethereum

• Large and existing network. The advantages of Ethereum are a proven network that has been tested over years of operation and billions of value trading operations. It has a large and engaged global community and the largest ecosystem in the field of blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
• Wide range of functions. In addition to being used as a digital currency, Ethereum can also process other financial transactions, execute smart contracts, and store data for third-party applications.
• Constant innovation. A large community of Ethereum developers is constantly looking for new ways to improve the network and develop new applications. “Due to Ethereum’s popularity, it tends to be the blockchain network of choice for new and exciting (and sometimes risky) decentralized applications,” says Avital.
• Avoid intermediaries. The decentralized Ethereum network promises to allow users to leave behind third-party intermediaries, such as lawyers who write and interpret contracts, banks that are intermediaries in financial transactions, or third-party web hosting services.

Disadvantages of Ethereum

• Increase in transaction costs. The growing popularity of Ethereum has led to higher transaction costs. Ethereum transaction fees, also known as “gas,” can vary and be quite expensive. This is great if you make money as a miner, but less so if you’re trying to use the network. Unlike Bitcoin, where the network rewards transaction verifiers, Ethereum requires those who participate in the transaction to cover the fee.
• Potential for cryptocurrencies inflation. While Ethereum has an annual release limit of 18 million Ether per year, there is no lifetime limit on the potential number of coins. This could mean that as an investment, Ethereum may perform more like dollars and may not appreciate as much as Bitcoin, which has a strict lifetime limit on the number of coins.
• Steep learning curve for developers. Ethereum can be difficult for developers to learn as they migrate from centralized processing to decentralized networks.

What is Ethereum 2.0?

In 2022, Ethereum 2.0 changed the cryptocurrency blockchain from to work test consensus mechanism a test of the bet. This gradually eliminated the need for miners, who perform validations on expensive cryptocurrency mining equipment and consume a lot of energy.

Staking, which involves locking up a certain amount of cryptocurrency to participate in the transaction verification process, has replaced mining to verify Ethereum transactions. Ethereum 2.0 reduced the the carbon footprint of cryptocurrencies up to 99.9%.

How to buy Ethereum

It’s a common misconception among people new to the Ethereum network. You don’t buy Ethereum itself – that’s the network. Instead, you buy Ether and then use it on the Ethereum network. Given the popularity of Ethereum, it is very simple to buy Ether:

• Choose a cryptocurrency exchange. Cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms are used to buy and sell different cryptocurrencies. Coinbase, Binance.US AND Kraken they are some of the largest exchanges. If you are only interested in purchasing the most common coins like Ether and Bitcoin, you could also use a online brokerage like Robinhood or SoFi. Be prepared to pay some amount of trading or processing fees almost universally.
• Deposit fiat money. You can deposit cash, such as dollars, into your trading platform or link your bank account or debit card to fund Ether purchases.
• Buy Ether. Once you have funded your account, you can use the money to purchase Ether at the current Ethereum price along with other assets. Once the coins are in your account, you may hold them, sell them, or exchange them for other cryptocurrencies in the future. Keep in mind that you may incur taxes every time you sell or trade cryptocurrencies.
• Use a wallet. While you may store Ether in your trading platform’s default digital wallet, this can pose a security risk. If someone hacks the exchange, they could easily steal your coins. Another option is to transfer coins that you don’t plan to sell or trade anytime soon to another digital wallet or cold wallet that isn’t connected to the internet for safety.

Should You Buy Ether?

According to DeWaal, you may want to consider investing in the Ethereum network for a few reasons. “First, it has value and is used as a virtual currency. Secondly, the Ethereum blockchain could become more attractive as it migrates to the new protocol. And third, as more and more people use Ethereum’s distributed apps, demand for ETH may increase,” he says.

In addition to buying Ether directly, you could also try investing in companies that build applications using the Ethereum network. If you want help managing your investment, you could also purchase a professional investment fund like Bitwise Ethereum Fund or Grayscale Ethereum Trust.

Before making any significant investment in Ether or other cryptocurrencies, consider speaking with a financial advisor first and foremost on potential risks. Given the high risk and volatility of this market, make sure it’s money you can afford to lose, even if you believe in Ethereum’s potential.

Fuente