When most people think of Ethereum, they think of the Ethereum blockchain and the native ETH token. However, Ethereum is much more than that.
It is a decentralized platform that can be used to create decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts.
The Ethereum blockchain is powered by the ETH token, which is used to pay for transaction fees and gas costs. However, the ETH token is not the only token that can be used on the Ethereum blockchain.
There are many other tokens that have been created on top of Ethereum, known as ERC20 tokens.
ERC20 tokens are created using the Ethereum blockchain and they are compliant with a set of rules known as the ERC20 standard. These tokens can be used for a variety of purposes, such as representing a digital asset, utility, or currency.
There are many different ERC20 tokens, and each one has its own unique purpose. Some of the more popular ERC20 tokens include:
Bitcoin: The original cryptocurrency that started it all. Bitcoin is a digital asset and a payment system that uses peer-to-peer technology to facilitate instant payments.
Ether: The native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network. Ether is used to pay for transaction fees and gas costs.
It is also used to create smart contracts on the Ethereum network.
Litecoin: A digital asset that is similar to Bitcoin but with faster transaction times. Litecoin is often referred to as the “silver to Bitcoin’s gold.”
Ripple: A real-time gross settlement system (RTGS) that also offers a currency exchange and remittance network. Ripple is often used by banks and financial institutions.
ERC20 tokens are just one type of token that can be created on the Ethereum blockchain. There are also other types of tokens, such as ERC721 tokens, which are non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
NFTs are unique digital assets that cannot be replicated or exchanged for other assets.
So, what does it mean to fork Ethereum?
A fork occurs when there is a change in the protocol of a blockchain or cryptocurrency. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as an upgrade to the network or a change in consensus rules.
When a fork occurs, there is usually two versions of the blockchain or cryptocurrency: the old version and the new version. Holders of the old version will need to upgrade to the new version in order to continue using the network or participating in transactions.