Ethereum High: A Look at Its History and Future

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Ethereum High has its roots in 2013, when Vitalik Buterin first proposed the idea for a decentralized platform that could support smart contracts.

Vitalik Buterin's whitepaper outlined the concept of a decentralized platform that could support smart contracts, and it was initially met with skepticism by some in the cryptocurrency community.

The Ethereum Foundation was established in 2014 to oversee the development of the Ethereum platform, which was officially launched in 2015.

Ethereum's initial coin offering (ICO) raised over $18 million in 2014, and it has since become one of the largest and most widely-used decentralized platforms in the world.

What Is Ethereum?

Ethereum is a game-changer in the blockchain industry, known for introducing smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Ethereum's native currency is Ether (ETH), which powers transactions and smart contracts.

Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum has revolutionized the way decentralized applications run on a global network of nodes.

The platform enables decentralized applications to operate on a vast network, making it a powerful tool for innovation.

Ethereum's market capitalization makes it the second-largest cryptocurrency, a testament to its impact on the industry.

It's no wonder Ethereum has set the stage for decentralized applications to run smoothly and efficiently on a global scale.

Ethereum Features

A cluster of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum on a subtle background symbolizing digital finance.
Credit: pexels.com, A cluster of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum on a subtle background symbolizing digital finance.

Ethereum has pioneered the concept of a blockchain smart contract platform, allowing it to execute smart contracts using the blockchain.

Over 40 ERC-20-compliant tokens, such as USDT, LINK, and BNB, make the top-100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, highlighting the platform's versatility.

Ethereum's blockchain is designed to host other cryptocurrencies through the use of its ERC-20 compatibility standard, with more than 280,000 ERC-20-compliant tokens launched to date.

The Ethereum blockchain has grown into a comprehensive network for decentralized apps, NFTs, and more, making it a core component of the decentralized internet.

Gas fees, paid in ETH, ensure the network's operations remain efficient, with every transaction or smart contract interaction requiring gas, making ETH a critical asset in the blockchain economy.

What Is an

Ethereum's decentralized nature is rooted in its use of a proof-of-work consensus algorithm, which allows for the creation of a public, open-source ledger called the blockchain. This ledger is maintained by a network of computers around the world, making it virtually tamper-proof.

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The Ethereum network is secured by a complex system of cryptography and game theory, ensuring that the integrity of the blockchain is maintained. This security model has been designed to be highly resilient and adaptable.

Ethereum's smart contract functionality is made possible by its use of a Turing-complete programming language, which allows developers to create self-executing contracts with specific rules and conditions. This enables a wide range of decentralized applications to be built on top of the Ethereum network.

The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is a critical component of the Ethereum network, providing a sandboxed environment for the execution of smart contracts. The EVM is responsible for processing transactions and executing the logic of smart contracts.

Ethereum's use of a gas-based fee system helps to prevent spam and abuse of the network, while also providing a way to incentivize miners to secure the network. This fee system is based on the amount of computational effort required to process a transaction.

What Makes Unique?

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Ethereum has pioneered the concept of a blockchain smart contract platform, allowing it to execute smart contracts using the blockchain.

Ethereum's principal innovation was designing a platform that allowed it to execute smart contracts using the blockchain, which further reinforces the already existing benefits of smart contract technology.

Ethereum's blockchain is designed to be a globally distributed network of public nodes, making any program more robust, censorship-resistant, and less prone to fraud.

In addition to smart contracts, Ethereum's blockchain is able to host other cryptocurrencies, called "tokens", through the use of its ERC-20 compatibility standard.

More than 280,000 ERC-20-compliant tokens have been launched on the ETH platform so far, with over 40 of these making the top-100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

Ethereum enables the execution of smart contracts, providing a trustless environment for users to transact, making ETH a critical asset in the blockchain economy.

Every transaction or smart contract interaction requires gas, paid in ETH, ensuring the network's operations remain efficient.

Ethereum Network

Bitcoin Mining Letter Tiles Near an Iphone
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The Ethereum network is secured via the Ethash proof-of-work algorithm, which belongs to the Keccak family of hash functions. This was the case as of August 2020.

There are plans to transition the network to a proof-of-stake algorithm tied to the major Ethereum 2.0 update, which launched in late 2020. This update introduced the Ethereum 2.0 Beacon Chain, which went live in December 2020.

To participate in the Ethereum 2.0 network, you need to deposit 32 ETH, which is currently valued at around $116,029. This helps to secure the network by storing data, processing transactions, and adding new blocks to the blockchain.

Ethereum staking rewards are determined by a distribution curve, which takes into account the participation and average percent of stakers. Early stakers were rewarded at 20% annually, but this will be lowered to between 7% and 4.5% as the network develops.

Network Security

The Ethereum network is secured through the Ethash proof-of-work algorithm, which belongs to the Keccak family of hash functions. This was the case as of August 2020.

Credit: youtube.com, Ethereum's Attackathon: Boosting Network Security!

However, plans are in place to transition the network to a proof-of-stake algorithm tied to the major Ethereum 2.0 update, which launched in late 2020.

Ethereum 2.0 Beacon Chain (Phase 0) went live in early December 2020, making it possible to begin staking on the Ethereum 2.0 network. To stake, you need to deposit 32 ETH, which requires a significant upfront investment.

At the time of writing in mid-September 2021, the Ethereum price for 32 Ether is roughly $116,029. This means that validators can earn a return of 6% APR, which equates to around 1.91952 ETH, or $6960.

Ethereum staking rewards are determined by a distribution curve, which takes into account the participation and average percent of stakers. Some early stakers were rewarded at 20%, but this will be lowered to between 7% and 4.5% annually.

Transaction Volume & Whale Transfers Spike

Ethereum's Transaction Volume has recently seen an uplift, tracking the total amount of cryptocurrency users are shifting across the network with their transactions.

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According to data from Santiment, this metric has been increasing, indicating more activity on the ETH network.

The Whale Transaction Count has also spiked, suggesting that large transactions are becoming more common on Ethereum.

This uptick in whale transfers could be a sign that more significant players are entering the market.

Ethereum's Transaction Volume and Whale Transaction Count are key indicators of network activity and can provide insights into the health and usage of the platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was ETH at its peak?

ETH reached its peak price in November 2021, with a record high of $4,891.70. This marked the second new all-time high for the cryptocurrency that year.

Kristin Ward

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Kristin Ward is a versatile writer with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a background in research and analysis, she brings a unique perspective to her writing, making complex topics accessible to a wide range of readers. Kristin's writing portfolio showcases her ability to tackle a variety of subjects, from personal finance to lifestyle and beyond.

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