What is ether (ETH)?

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Ether is Ethereum’s native token and the fuel that powers the Ethereum blockchain. On Ethereum, each operation (many of which can be combined to create a single unique smart contract or transaction) requires a certain amount of computing energy to perform. Because miners must use energy to complete these operations, a unit of measurement was created to monitor and compensate miners for the work they spend running transactions and smart contracts. This unit of measurement is called gas. Gas is a unit of measurement that is unique to the Ethereum blockchain and that measures the computational work required to run transactions or smart contracts within the EVM. The more energy required to run an operation (i.e. a more complex piece of code), the more gas is required. The value of each unit of gas is expressed in ether. Ether therefore provides an incentive for miners to validate blocks of transactions and for developers to write concise, quality code. ETH is the symbol for ether. Note that “eth” is also a command line used for importing the Ethereum wallet.
What is an ETH address?

All cryptocurrencies require addresses, or public identifiers, to send and receive funds. An ETH address is specific to Ethereum’s ether currency. Miners also need to set up an “etherbase,” which is a set address that will collect earnings from mining. “How to Store Digital Assets on Ethereum” is a helpful walkthrough for understanding cryptocurrency wallets, seed phrases, and security best practices for managing digital assets.
How can I earn ether (ETH)?

There are a variety of ways to earn ETH, both on and off the Ethereum blockchain. ETH is one of the most popularly traded cryptocurrencies and available on most exchanges. ETH is also becoming an increasingly popular way to compensate freelancers. Global freelance marketplaces like Bounties Network allow developers, designers, translators, and users from various disciplines to earn ETH for fulfilling tasks. Of course, mining Ethereum and supporting the network is one way to be rewarded in ETH.
How long does it take to transfer ether?

Ethereum confirmation times vary widely depending upon the amount of gas one is willing to spend, along with other market factors. You can view the median wait times at ethgasstation.info.
What is the gas limit in Ethereum?

The Ethereum gas limit is one of three core concepts of ether. The others are cost and price. Limits are set as the maximum payment one is willing to incur to complete a transaction. If a gas limit is set too low, it is possible that the transaction will fail. This is because the miner who attempts the transaction will go on and execute operations until the gas limit is reached. If additional operations are required, then the miner keeps the gas as fees for work done and the system records the transaction as “failed.” Gas limits are important because they protect both users and miners from faulty codes and network attacks. They are relevant because the dynamic nature of the Ethereum blockchain is comprised of a variety of smart contract operational levels. Not all transactions are the same and therefore require different amounts of gas to fuel their operations.
What is Ethereum coded in?

Ethereum smart contracts can be coded in Solidity, Serpent, LLL, and Mutan. These are contract-oriented, high-level languages. Their purpose is to target the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to provide a means for smart contracts. The Ethereum protocol has been developed using a variety of languages, from C++ to Python, Ruby, Go, Java, Rust, and more.
What is Ethereum used for?

There are a wide range of Ethereum use cases and applications, from payment settlement to supply chain tracking to digital identity management. Ethereum’s flexibility, modularity, agility, and scalability has attracted thousands of developers to the ecosystem, as well as global enterprises that are interested in deploying blockchain solutions to meet critical business needs.