Ethereum was first described by Russian-Canadian Vitalik Buterin in a 2013 blog post entitled Ethereum: The Ultimate Smart Contract and Decentralized Application Platform. The goal was to create a 'Turing complete' blockchain. This can be described as a decentralized computer capable of running any type of application, rather than just a decentralized ledger capable of managing programmable money (like Bitcoin).
The official list of founders include Vitalik Buterin, Anthony Di lorio, Charles Hoskinson, Mihai Alisie, Amir Chetrit, Joseph Lubin, Gavin Wood, and Jeffrey Wilcke, but several of the founders parted ways early on in the project. Notably, Charles Hoskinson went on to found a competing smart contract platform called Cardano. Formal development of the first Ethereum software client began in early 2014 through EthSuisse, a company based in Zug, Switzerland. Ethereum mainet was launched in July, 2015, one year after the crowdsale that funded its development.
Read more: Learn how ETH was initially distributed and why token distribution is important.
Learn how to buy ETH and hold it securely in a digital wallet you control.
Learn about the 2014 crowdsale, the initial distribution of ether (ETH), and why it's important.
Get the basics on the "software" that runs on decentralized networks.
Learn the basics of the Ethereum token standard, what ERC-20 tokens are used for, and how they work.
Understand the basics of Decentralized Applications (DApps) on decentralized networks; their features and their current limitations.
Learn what makes decentralized finance (DeFi) apps work and how they compare to traditional financial products.
Learn about the issuance rate of ETH and how it's governed.
Learn about the unit for measuring transaction fees in Ethereum, get details on the Ethereum fee market, and discover how to customize the fees you pay.
Understand how EIP 1559 overhauls the fee market in Ethereum and what it means for ETH's circulating supply.
Why governance is needed, Ethereum governance in practice, the concept of credible neutrality, and more.
Learn about Ethereum's attempt to solve the blockchain trilemma with a move to Proof of Stake, sharding, and more.
Creating an Ethereum wallet is as easy as installing software on your mobile device or laptop/desktop.
Understand Ethereum's key characteristics.
Understand the function and utility of ETH.
Learn how to buy ETH and hold it securely in a digital wallet you control.
Learn about the 2014 crowdsale, the initial distribution of ether (ETH), and why it's important.
Get the basics on the "software" that runs on decentralized networks.
Learn the basics of the Ethereum token standard, what ERC-20 tokens are used for, and how they work.
Understand the basics of Decentralized Applications (DApps) on decentralized networks; their features and their current limitations.
Learn what makes decentralized finance (DeFi) apps work and how they compare to traditional financial products.
Learn about the issuance rate of ETH and how it's governed.
Learn about the unit for measuring transaction fees in Ethereum, get details on the Ethereum fee market, and discover how to customize the fees you pay.
Understand how EIP 1559 overhauls the fee market in Ethereum and what it means for ETH's circulating supply.
Why governance is needed, Ethereum governance in practice, the concept of credible neutrality, and more.
Learn about Ethereum's attempt to solve the blockchain trilemma with a move to Proof of Stake, sharding, and more.
Creating an Ethereum wallet is as easy as installing software on your mobile device or laptop/desktop.
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