What Is Ethereum?
More than "the #2 coin" — Ethereum is a shared world computer that runs smart contracts and most crypto apps.
Bitcoin vs Ethereum
Bitcoin aims mainly to be "digital gold" — a scarce, censorship-resistant store of value. Ethereum is more of a programmable platform: beyond transfers, it runs "smart contracts," code that executes automatically. Most DeFi, NFTs, and stablecoins are built on Ethereum or similar chains.
ETH and Gas
ETH is Ethereum's native token — both an asset and the fuel for network fees (gas). Every transfer or contract interaction costs gas, and fees rise when the network is congested. In 2022 Ethereum moved to proof-of-stake (PoS), cutting energy use dramatically.
