Ethereum
The Ethereum Project's logo, first used in 2014.
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| Initial release | 30 July 2015 |
|---|---|
| Repository | github |
| Development status | Active |
| Written in | C++, Go, Rust |
| Operating system | Clients available for Linux, Windows, macOS, POSIX, Raspbian |
| Platform | x86, ARM |
| Type | Decentralized computing |
| License | Multiple open-source licenses |
| Website | www |
| Ether | |
|---|---|
| Denominations | |
| Symbol | Ξ or ETH |
| Demographics | |
| User(s) | Worldwide |
| Issuance | |
| Currency type | |
| Ethereum Classic | |
|---|---|
| Denominations | |
| Symbol | ⟠ or ETC |
| Demographics | |
| User(s) | Worldwide |
| Issuance | |
| Currency type | |
Ethereum is an open-source, public, blockchain-based distributed computing platform featuring smart contract (scripting) functionality. It provides a decentralized Turing-complete virtual machine, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which can execute scripts using an international network of public nodes. Ethereum also provides a value token called "ether", which can be transferred between participants and is used to compensate participant nodes for computations performed. Gas, an internal transaction pricing mechanism, is used to prevent spam on the network and allocate resources proportionally to the incentive offered by the request.
Ethereum was initially proposed in late 2013 by Vitalik Buterin, a researcher and programmer. Development was funded by an online crowdsale during July–August 2014. The system went live on 30 July 2015. A hard fork on the network that occurred on July 20, 2016, resulted in two separate blockchains: Ethereum and Ethereum Classic. Ethereum Classic is a separate blockchain that came into existence as a result of the DAO hard-fork, consolidating members of the Ethereum community who rejected this fork on philosophical grounds.
Ethereum was initially described in a white paper by Vitalik Buterin, a programmer involved with Bitcoin, in late 2013 with a goal of building decentralized applications. More specifically, Buterin "had argued to the bitcoin core developers that the platform needed a more robust scripting language for developing applications." Failing to gain agreement, he proposed development of a new platform with a more general scripting language. Buterin believes that many applications could benefit from Bitcoin-like software.
The Ethereum software project was initially developed in early 2014 by a Swiss company, Ethereum Switzerland GmbH (EthSuisse). Subsequently, a Swiss non-profit foundation, the Ethereum Foundation (Stiftung Ethereum) was set up as well. Development was funded by an online public crowdsale during July–August 2014, with the participants buying the Ethereum value token (ether) with another digital currency, bitcoin. While there was early praise for the technical innovations of Ethereum, questions were also raised about its security and scalability.
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Wikipedia