What Is Ethereum?

People often think of Ethereum simply as a cryptocurrency, but it’s much more than that.

The Ethereum network is a distributed, public blockchain equipped with a Turing-complete scripting language that allows developers to build any array of applications and functionalities on top of it.

These scripts, which are often called smart contracts, allow if-then logic to be automatically applied to a set of digital assets based on predetermined conditions.

Ether, the cryptocurrency application built on the Ethereum network, was designed to power the Ethereum network by compensating miners for performing computations.

Since its inception and initial launch, the Ethereum network has transitioned from a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism to the less energy-intensive proof-of-stake (PoS) mechanism.

Overall, this along with several other technological advancements has allowed Ethereum to boost its efficiency while limiting its carbon footprint – a major criticism of cryptocurrencies in general.

What separates Ethereum from other blockchain applications is the EVM – the Ethereum Virtual Machine – which makes the process of building decentralised applications simple and efficient.

By enabling developers to build decentralised applications (otherwise known as dApps), Ethereum is making previously unimaginable applications of blockchain technology possible. The use of blockchain technology is no longer confined to digital currencies; it’s now being used in everything from electronic voting, to trade finance.

It’s no wonder, then, that Ethereum has the second-largest market capitalisation of any cryptocurrency, behind only Bitcoin.

History of Ethereum

Ethereum is a very young platform. Having been released in 2015, it’s only been operating for a few years. Nonetheless, it’s seen tremendous growth during that time. In 2017 alone, the Ether currency grew by over 15,000%.

Many analysts are predicting further growth over the next few years as more companies begin to adopt to blockchain applications and use smart contracts.

Some even estimate that Ether will overtake Bitcoin as the leading cryptocurrency, but where did it all begin? Let’s take a look at an early timeline:

2013

A programmer named Vitalik Buterin first outlines the concept of Ethereum on paper. He goes on to publish a whitepaper which describes the technical design of and rationale behind it.

2014

The first Ethereum software project is developed by GmbH, a Swiss company. Later that year, a pre-sale of Ether is launched to create a network of miners and shareholders, which raises over $14 million. The Ethereum protocol is set to allow the creation of 5 Ether per block mined.

2015

The first beta version of Ethereum, named Frontier, is launched.

2016

Homestead, a protocol upgrade, is added to the network. The DAO raises $150 million in a crowd sale which earns Ethereum a lot of media coverage. The DAO is then hacked by an unidentified group which sparks a large cryptocurrency debate and causes the network to split into two factions: Ethereum and Ethereum Classic. Ethereum goes on to increase its DDoS and stop further attacks.

2017

Russia endorses Ethereum, and AVATrade and eToro add Ether trading. Many new companies begin to take advantage of Ethereum’s smart contracts to create derivative tokens. These factors all create momentum for Ether, which quickly increases its market capitalization and experiences huge growth.

2022

Ethereum upgrades to ETH 2.0, switching the Ethereum network from an energy-intensive proof-of-work consensus mechanism to proof of stake.

2023

Ethereum price reached a new 2023 peak of $2,170 on Dec 2.

Ethereum Uses

As we mentioned earlier, Ethereum and Ether are not one in the same. The uses of Ether are similar to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Ethereum is essentially a decentralised network with massive functionality. As such, it has almost unlimited applications.

Here are 5 practical uses of Ethereum:

It can be used in the healthcare system to securely store and share patient information.
Smart contracts can be used to make risk-free, direct transactions.
It can be used to improve the current election polling system by making it more transparent and secure.
It can be used as a decentralised data storage facility.
It can be used to build decentralised apps (dApps).

Uses within trade finance

Ethereum can also be used to build custom blockchain networks for use in trade finance – an industry which has long stood to benefit from digitalisation.

Trade finance has always involved copious documentation and lengthy processes. Moving away from this towards digital processes, enabled by blockchain technology, could allow institutions to offer faster payments and more efficient and secure processes.

For more information on this, as well as practical use examples of blockchain technology in trade finance check out our blockchain guide or our wider tradetech guide.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Ethereum – or more accurately, Ether – shares many of the same benefits as other cryptocurrencies, namely freedom of payment, transparent information and the ability to bypass third parties. It also shares some of the same challenges, such as not being widely accepted and having high volatility.

The below table outlines the main advantages and disadvantages of Ethereum/Ether compared to other cryptocurrencies and blockchain platforms:

Advantages	Disadvantages
Lower transaction fees. Ether generally has lower transaction fees than Bitcoin.	Not a true currency. Although Ether can be used as a cryptocurrency, Ethereum was primarily designed as a platform. It’s more flexible but less optimised for use specifically as a token.
Flexibility. Ethereum is a whole package which facilitates the creation of complex networks and contracts for many different products and services. This USP sets it apart from cryptocurrencies which are designed only as digital currency.	Developer challenges. Developers are struggling to work with smart contracts since there aren’t a lot of tutorials and documentation currently available. This is expected to improve over time.
Roadmap. Ethereum has a robust roadmap with clear standards for expected improvements and developments over the coming years. This is something that many other cryptocurrencies lack.	Smart contract loopholes. As smart contracts rely on humans to write them, they’re vulnerable to human error. This was highlighted during the DAO hack where $50 million was nearly stolen.
Corporate Interest. Many companies are working with Ethereum to improve the ecosystem. Very few blockchains have a similar level of support.

Ethereum Symbol

Interesting Facts

Here are 3 interesting facts about Ethereum:

Programmers of Ethereum created a custom programming language called ‘Solidity’.
Unlike other cryptocurrencies, Ethereum’s currency ‘Ether’ doesn’t have a maximum number of coins. This makes it an inflationary currency.
Ether mining was originally based on the Proof-of-Work mining principle, but developers have since switched over to Proof-of-Stake.

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About the Author

Deepesh Patel is Editorial Director at Trade Finance Global (TFG). In this role, Deepesh leads efforts in developing TFG’s brand, relationships and strategic direction in key markets, including the UK, US, Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong.

Deepesh regularly chairs and speaks at international industry events with the WTO, BCR, Excred, TXF, The Economist and Reuters, as well as industry associations including ICC, FCI, ITFA, ICISA and BAFT.

Deepesh is the host of the ‘Trade Finance Talks’ podcast and ‘Trade Finance Talks TV’. He is co-author of ‘Blockchain for Trade: A Reality Check’ with the ICC and the WTO, alongside other industry research.

In addition to his work at TFG, Deepesh is a Strategic Advisor for WOA, and works closely with ITFA. He also sits on the Fintech Working Group of the Standardised Trust.

Prior to TFG, Deepesh worked at Travelex where he was responsible for the cards business and the Travelex Money app in Europe, NAM, UK and Brazil. Deepesh is Chair of Governors and co-opted LA Governor of the Wyvern Federation, which has responsibility for 5 primary schools in South London.

An introduction to Ethereum | Trade Finance Global

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