Ethereum (ETH) Wallet

What is Ethereum?

Ethereum is a public, open-source, peer-to-peer network of virtual machines. It is a blockchain-based distributed computing platform and operating system featuring smart contract functionality. In other words, it is a decentralized supercomputer that anyone can use. Ethereum is most frequently used to track the ownership of digital currencies like Ether and ERC20 tokens but it also supports a wide range of decentralized applications (dApps). A few Ethereum wallet options are available with Ethereum. The Trust Wallet mobile app started off as an Ethereum wallet but has since evolved its offering of storage capabilities and has become a multi coin crypto wallet which is capable of storing Ethereum ERC20 coins and other cryptocurrencies as well.

How does it work?

The Ethereum blockchain is similar to Bitcoin, but its programming language enables developers to write programmable code, called smart contracts. If a traditional contract outlines the terms of a relationship, a smart contract ensures those terms are fulfilled by writing it in code. It is software that automatically executes the agreement as soon as predefined conditions are met, eliminating the delay and expense involved in completing a deal manually. To take a simple example, an Ethereum user could create a smart contract to send a certain amount of ether to a friend on a certain date. They would record this on the blockchain, and as soon as the contract is complete – that is, the agreed date arrives – the ether would automatically be released to the other party. This fundamental idea can be applied to far more complex setups, and its potential is arguably limitless. Projects are already making headway in the areas of insurance, property, financial services, legal and crowdfunding.

What are the features of Ethereum?

Smart Contracts

Vitalik Buterin expanded on Bitcoin secure transaction technology and found on an abstract level that a transaction in itself could be secured with a contract. The contract is an agreement between two parties securing the promise of a one- or two-way exchange. He designed the Ethereum Virtual Machine with this in mind; that any transaction over the blockchain network should be self-executed once agreed upon by both parties and should be recorded on a public blockchain ledger. This self-execution is what makes these contracts “smart”. Ethereum opened up an entirely new universe for business accountability and in turn a new economy. Smart contracts benefits:

• They cut out the middleman, giving the user complete control and minimal extra costs
• They are recorded, encrypted and duplicated on the public blockchain, where all participants can see market activity
• They eliminate the time and effort required to manually process agreements and documents. Smart contracts are still an entirely new system with a number of creases to iron out. The code is translated literally, and any errors or vulnarability when the smart contract is created may result in unintended outcomes which can’t be undone and could lead to the loss of funds.

Decentralized Applications

A decentralized application (DApp) is an application run by many users/nodes on a fully decentralized network with trustless protocols. DApps are designed to avoid any single point of failure and control. They typically have tokens and incentives to reward users for providing security and computing power.

What are the difference between Token vs Coin?

Sometimes people use the term “coin” to refer to what other people call “tokens”, and “token” to refer to what others call “coins”. In reality, they are both Digital Assets which can transfer and store value. Coins are usually created within a network, like ETH, BTC, LTC. Tokens are Digital Assets created within the application on a certain blockchain. On the Ethereum network they are called ERC20 tokens.