Ethereum continues to anchor DeFi’s capital base, with billions in real-world and native assets locked across its ecosystem. Ethereum offers transparency, programmability, and global accessibility. It is becoming the trust layer where traditional finance meets open infrastructure.

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These are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into lines of code. They run on the blockchain, so they are transparent, immutable, and don’t require a third party to enforce the terms. https://consultmanagerx.com/ Users pay a network fee, known as gas, in Ether to execute these smart contracts and other transactions. Any asset, such as equities, bonds, and real estate, can be represented on Ethereum through tokenization. Today, the largest category of tokenized assets are stablecoins, which are tokens that are pegged to the value of another asset such as the US dollar.

Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: two philosophies, one ecosystem

A type of cryptocurrency that’s pegged to another asset like the US dollar or gold to maintain a stable value. A digital container that holds a list of transactions and other important data, such as timestamps and references to the previous block. The general purpose blockchain, the first of its kind, can process and execute code of arbitrary complexity. Please note that the availability of the products and services on the Crypto.com App is subject to jurisdictional limitations. Crypto.com may not offer certain products, features and/or services on the Crypto.com App in certain jurisdictions due to potential or actual regulatory restrictions.

  • They run on the blockchain, so they are transparent, immutable, and don’t require a third party to enforce the terms.
  • The value of the Trust’s investments in bitcoin could decline rapidly, including to zero.
  • Artists, musicians, and creators used the blockchain to sell, license, and remix digital work in ways never before possible.
  • Users pay a network fee, known as gas, in Ether to execute these smart contracts and other transactions.
  • SEC fillings and other documents provided by Quartr.© 2026 TradingView, Inc.
  • As of mid-2025, Ethereum and its scaling layers host around 60% of the tokenized asset market.

Discovery of flaws in or exploitations of the source code that allow malicious actors to take or create money in contravention of known network rules has occurred. The further development and acceptance of the Ethereum network, which is part of a new and rapidly changing industry, is subject to a variety of factors that are difficult to evaluate. The slowing, stopping or reversing of the development or acceptance of the network may adversely affect the price of ether and therefore an investment in the Shares. Ether has historically exhibited high price volatility relative to more traditional asset classes, which may be due to speculation regarding potential future appreciation in value.

What is Ethereum, and how does this digital asset work?

After a successful initial coin offering (ICO) in 2014, the Ethereum blockchain officially launched in 2015. Companies transacting on the blockchain are required to manage a user’s account (or “wallet”) which is accessed via cryptographic keys. Mismanagement, theft, or loss of the keys can adversely affect the companies operations on the blockchain. A self-executing program with the agreement terms written directly into code and automatically enforced and executed when the conditions are met. These contracts run on the Ethereum blockchain, providing transparency and security and eliminating the need for intermediaries in some cases. Thousands of nodes (participant computers) run Ethereum software and validate transactions on the network.

ethereum

Artists, musicians, and creators used the blockchain to sell, license, and remix digital work in ways never before possible. If Ethereum is a decentralized economy, stablecoins are its cash. Ethereum continues to host the majority of global stablecoin volume, enabling everything from cross-border payments to on-chain savings.

Stablecoins are widely used in Decentralized Finance, a system of apps and protocols offering financial services without a central financial intermediary. DeFi financial services replicate traditional financial functions — such as borrowing, lending, and trading — often without the participation of banks, brokers, or exchanges. Ethereum supports a flourishing Decentralized Finance ecosystem. From U.S. Treasury bills and money market funds to private credit and real estate, Ethereum has quietly become the default platform for real-world asset tokenization.

The liquidity layer: stablecoins on Ethereum

Ethereum transactions are irrevocable and stolen or incorrectly transferred bitcoin may be irretrievable. As a result, any incorrectly executed bitcoin transactions could adversely affect an investment in the Trust. Regulatory changes or actions may alter the nature of an investment in bitcoin or restrict the use of ether or the operations of the Ethereum network or venues on which bitcoin trades. For example, it may become difficult or illegal to acquire, hold, sell or use ether in one or more countries, which could adversely impact the price of ether. Companies engaged in the development, enablement and acquisition of blockchain technologies are subject to a number of risks. Blockchain technology is new and many of its uses may be untested.