What is Ethereum (ETH)?

Ethereum is the community-run technology powering the cryptocurrency ether (ETH) and thousands of decentralized applications. ethereum.org is your portal into the world of Ethereum. The tech is new and ever-evolving – it helps to have a guide. Here's what we recommend you do if you want to dive in.

What can ETH do?

There are many cryptocurrencies and lots of other tokens on Ethereum, but there are some things that only ETH can do. ETH is the lifeblood of Ethereum. When you send ETH or use an Ethereum application, you'll pay a fee in ETH to use the Ethereum network.

Can I use ETH as collateral?

You can use ETH as collateral to generate entirely different cryptocurrency tokens on Ethereum. Plus you can borrow, lend and earn interest on ETH and other ETH-backed tokens. DeFi is the decentralized financial system built on Ethereum. This overview explains what you can do.

Who owns the Ethereum network?

Nobody owns or controls the Ethereum network. When you buy Ether, you’re not buying it from Ethereum — you buy it from someone else who owns it. A non-profit foundation, called the Ethereum Foundation, promotes and builds Ethereum-related technology.