Ethereum (ETH)
Fact sheet · reviewed October 26, 2026
Ethereum is a blockchain that runs programs called smart contracts, which power most tokens, stablecoins, DeFi apps and NFTs. Its coin, ether (ETH), pays transaction fees and is staked to secure the network.
Key facts
| Launched | July 30, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Created by | Vitalik Buterin and co-founders |
| How it's secured | Proof of stake (since September 2022) |
| Supply | About 120 million ETH; no fixed maximum |
| New blocks | Every 12 seconds |
| Smallest units | 1 gwei = 0.000000001 ETH; 1 wei = 10⁻¹⁸ ETH |
| Symbol | Ξ |
| Ways to invest besides coins | US spot Ether ETFs since July 2024 |
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What it's used for
Ethereum is the main home of tokens and crypto apps: stablecoins like USDC, decentralized exchanges and lending, NFTs, and layer 2 networks such as Base and Arbitrum that settle back to it.
How it works
Validators lock up 32 ETH each to propose and check blocks, and can lose part of it for cheating. Every action costs gas, paid in ETH; part of each fee is burned. More in what is Ethereum?
Risks to know
- Smart contracts can have bugs, and malicious approvals can drain a wallet.
- Fees can spike when the network is busy.
- ETH's price is volatile, and its supply can grow when activity is low.
Buying and storing it
If you decide to buy, use a regulated exchange you reach directly, check fees with the true cost calculator, and store long-term holdings in a wallet you control. Read how to buy crypto safely. This page isn't a recommendation to buy.
Questions
Is Ethereum a cryptocurrency?
Ethereum is the network; ether (ETH) is its cryptocurrency. People use both names.
Can you still mine Ethereum?
No. Ethereum switched to proof of stake in 2022.
Where to next
Sources
Facts checked against the sources listed, as of October 26, 2026. Educational only; not financial advice.