What Is Ethereum (ETH), in Plain English
Ethereum explained: a programmable blockchain for smart contracts and tokens, and how ETH differs from Bitcoin in what it was built to do.
Ethereum is a blockchain platform where programs run: smart contracts, tokens, decentralised applications. ETH is the native coin of the network, used to pay for operations on it. Where Bitcoin was designed to move money, Ethereum was designed to run code.
How it differs from Bitcoin
Bitcoin transfers money. Ethereum runs programs directly on the network. That made it the foundation for DeFi applications, tokens, and NFTs. Most of the well-known tokens, including USDT and USDC, originated here.
What ETH is actually for
Every operation on the network requires a fee called gas, paid in ETH. You need the coin even if you only work with tokens on the platform.
What to keep in mind
Fees are high. A simple token transfer can cost several dollars, and considerably more when the network is congested. USDT on Ethereum (ERC-20) is accepted almost everywhere, but for small amounts the TRC-20 version on Tron is more practical.
Confirmations are fast: seconds, not minutes. The main variable is the cost of the operation.
You can swap ETH at swapss.lol/exchange.
