Ethereum key facts
| Category | Layer 1 blockchain |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Mainnet, RPC |
| Launched | July 30, 2015 (Frontier) |
| Token | ETH |
| Open source | Yes (go-ethereum, LGPL-3.0 and GPL-3.0) |
| Company | Ethereum Foundation (non-profit; does not control Ethereum) |
| Fees | Base fee (burned) plus priority tip; ETH transfer uses 21,000 gas |
ETH token
- Price
- $2,127.6 +0.2% 24h
- Market cap
- $260B
- Fully diluted value
- $260B
- 30-day change
- -15.1%
Market data: CoinGecko, updated Nov 9, 2026. Educational content, not financial advice.
What is Ethereum?
Ethereum is a proof-of-stake smart contract blockchain. Its Frontier release went live on July 30, 2015, and The Merge on September 15, 2022 moved it from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake. Time is split into 12-second slots, and validators deposit 32 ETH to take part.
How Ethereum works
Time on Ethereum runs in 12-second slots grouped into 32-slot epochs.
In each slot one validator, picked pseudo-randomly through RANDAO, proposes a block, and a randomly chosen committee attests to it; committees rotate so every active validator attests once per epoch. The first block of each epoch is a checkpoint. When a pair of checkpoints gathers votes from at least two-thirds of staked ETH, the earlier one is finalized, and reversing it would require burning a large amount of ETH.
Each node runs an execution client, which processes transactions in the EVM, and a consensus client; validators add a validator client. Since the Pectra upgrade in May 2025, a validator needs at least 32 ETH and can hold up to 2,048 ETH, with compounding withdrawal credentials adding rewards to the stake. Withdrawals have been possible since the Shanghai/Capella upgrade on April 12, 2023. The Merge cut Ethereum's energy use by about 99.95%.
How to start with Ethereum
- Creating an account is free: install a wallet app from its official site or app store, and it generates your address.
- With ETH in the wallet you can pay gas and sign in to apps directly.
- To stake, you choose among home staking with 32 ETH and your own hardware, delegated staking where a provider runs the node for your 32 ETH, pooled or liquid staking where some projects accept as little as 0.01 ETH, or custodial staking on a centralized exchange.
Ethereum fees and limits
- A plain ETH transfer uses 21,000 gas, so ethereum.org's example with a 10 gwei base fee and a 2 gwei tip costs 252,000 gwei, or 0.000252 ETH.
Every transaction pays gas units times the base fee plus a priority tip. The protocol sets the base fee from previous blocks and burns it; the tip goes to the validator and decides how attractive your transaction is for inclusion. One gwei is one-billionth of an ETH.
Risks to know before using Ethereum
- Staked ETH faces penalties for going offline and slashing, a larger penalty with ejection, for provable misbehavior such as signing two conflicting blocks.
- Delegated staking adds counterparty risk because someone else holds your signing keys.
- Pooled and liquid staking combine counterparty and execution risk, and the validators behind a pool pass through the same entry and exit queues.
- Exchange staking carries the highest trust assumptions of the options, per ethereum.org.
Ethereum alternatives
Other projects people compare with Ethereum.
Sharded proof-of-stake Layer 1 blockchain with NEAR as its native token.
EVM-compatible proof-of-stake chain anchored to Ethereum by checkpoints, with POL as the gas and staking token.
Proof-of-stake Layer 1 blockchain with SOL as native token and a 5,000 lamport base fee per signature.
Proof-of-stake Layer 1 blockchain using the Move language and Mysticeti consensus, with SUI as native token.
Layer 1 blockchain using the Move language and AptosBFT consensus, with APT as native token.
Layer 1 network whose Primary Network runs the C-Chain, P-Chain and X-Chain, with AVAX as native token.
Where Ethereum ranks on DappAtlas
Listed next to Ethereum
Ethereum pros and cons
- Fixed 12-second slots under proof-of-stake
- Open-source clients, including Go Ethereum (geth)
- Proof-of-stake since The Merge on September 15, 2022
- Running a solo validator requires a 32 ETH deposit
- Validators run three pieces of software: execution, consensus and validator clients
- Staked ETH can be destroyed (slashed) for rule violations
Ethereum FAQ
What is Ethereum?
Ethereum is a proof-of-stake smart contract blockchain. Its Frontier release went live on July 30, 2015, and The Merge on September 15, 2022 moved it from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake. Time is split into 12-second slots, and validators deposit 32 ETH to take part.
How much does Ethereum cost?
Base fee (burned) plus priority tip; ETH transfer uses 21,000 gas, according to Ethereum’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).
Does Ethereum have a token?
Yes, ETH. Its market cap was $260B on CoinGecko on Nov 9, 2026. Educational content, not financial advice.
Sources
How this page works
Sources: Ethereum: official site, Ethereum: History of Ethereum, Ethereum: Proof-of-stake docs. Data as of Sep 26, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.