Assets, Ethereum

What Does Ethereum Actually Do?

Ethereum is a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts: applications that run exactly as programmed without any possibility of fraud or third party interference.

These apps run on a custom built blockchain, an enormously powerful shared global infrastructure that can move value around and represent the ownership of property. This enables developers to create markets, store registries of debts or promises, move funds in accordance with instructions given long in the past (like a will or a futures contract) and many other things that have not been invented yet, all without a middleman or counterparty risk.

NOTE: WARNING: Ethereum is a complex and emerging technology. There is a lot of nuance and detail to understand about what it does, how it works, and how it can be used. Before engaging with Ethereum, be sure to do your own research and understand the risks involved with investing in cryptocurrencies and other blockchain technologies.

The project was bootstrapped via an ether presale in August 2014 by fans all around the world. It is developed by the Ethereum Foundation, a Swiss non-profit, with contributions from great minds across the globe.

Ethereum is often described as a digital currency but here’s something important to remember: Ethereum is much more than that. Ethereum is a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts: applications that run exactly as programmed without any possibility of fraud or third party interference.

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