In 2015, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin proposed a radical idea for a new kind of internet. Rather than being centrally controlled by governments or corporations, it would be a decentralized network run by its users.
This network would not only be a platform for digital money, but also for “smart contracts” – computer programs that could automatically execute the terms of agreements between parties.
Today, Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin, and its vision of a decentralized future is gaining mainstream attention. But how high can Ethereum go? In this article, we’ll take a look at Ethereum’s potential in the years ahead.
Ethereum’s Network Is Growing
One way to measure Ethereum’s potential is to look at the growth of its network. The Ethereum network is made up of thousands of computers around the world that process transactions and run smart contracts.
And this network is growing rapidly.
In 2015, there were only about 1,000 computers running the Ethereum software. Today, there are more than 10,000. And as more people use Ethereum, the network becomes more valuable.
This is because Ethereum’s value comes from its usefulness as a platform for decentralized applications. The more applications are built on Ethereum, the more valuable it becomes.
And it’s not just the number of computers running the Ethereum software that’s increasing. The amount of money being put into Ethereum is also growing rapidly. In 2015, total investment in Ethereum was about $100 million.
Today, it’s more than $10 billion. This rapid growth in both users and investment suggests that there is strong demand for a platform like Ethereum.
Ethereum Is gaining Mainstream Attention
Another way to measure Ethereum’s potential is to look at how much mainstream attention it is receiving. In 2015, few people outside of the cryptocurrency community had even heard of Ethereum.
Today, it’s one of the hottest topics in tech and finance. Major banks and corporations are investigating how to use Ethereum’s smart contract technology, and the media is filled with stories about the latest Ethereum-based startUPS and projects.
This increasing mainstream attention is likely to continue in the years ahead as more people learn about what Ethereum can do. As awareness grows, so too will investment and adoption – which will drive up the price of Ether (Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency).
Ethereum Has Huge Potential
Based on its current trajectory, it seems likely that Ethereum will continue to grow in popularity and value in the years ahead. It has already come a long way in just a few short years, and there is no reason to think that its growth will slow down any time soon. So how high can Ethereum go? Only time will tell – but it seems clear that its potential is sky-high.