Ethereum is a global computer network. Unlike your laptop, it’s not owned by any one person or company.
Here’s the basics:
- The Blockchain: Ethereum keeps a record of every transaction ever made, like a giant list that’s constantly being updated.
- Apps, Not Just Money: It lets developers build all sorts of programs on it – games, financial tools, you name it.
- Smart Contracts: These are like automatic agreements. If X happens, then Y will happen, with no need for lawyers or banks in the middle.
- ETH: The Fuel: Ethereum’s own cryptocurrency is called ETH. You use it to pay to run programs on the network.
Why Does Ethereum Matter?
It’s changing how the internet can be used:
- Trust: Since no single person or company runs Ethereum, you don’t have to trust anyone but the code itself.
- No Downtime: Apps built on Ethereum are designed to always be up and running, with no one able to shut them down.
- New Possibilities: Devs are still figuring out all the cool things Ethereum makes possible!
- Think of it Like…
If Bitcoin is digital gold, Ethereum is digital oil. It’s the fuel that makes this whole new part of the internet work.
