Ether

Ether (ETH) is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, functioning as a fuel for operations within the network. It serves multiple purposes: as a digital currency, it can be bought, sold, and held as an investment; as a utility token, it's used to pay for transaction fees and computational services on the Ethereum network. Ether is integral to running decentralized applications (dApps) and executing smart contracts on Ethereum, providing the necessary resources for these operations. As Ethereum evolves, especially with upgrades like Ethereum 2.0, Ether's role remains central, facilitating not just transactions but also the broader ecosystem of decentralized finance (DeFi) and various blockchain-based applications.

Markets

DeFi Giant Aave Stops Loaning Ether Ahead of the Merge

The Aave community is worried that users may increasingly borrow ether ahead of the Merge, exposing the protocol to liquidity issues and injecting volatility into Lido's staked ether market.

By Omkar GodboleSep 6, 2022

DeFi giant Aave stops ether borrowing. (Broesis/Pixabay)

Markets

First Mover Asia: Ethereum's Merge Starts to Hit Gaming Chip Prices

Prices for graphics processing units for personal computers are tumbling ahead of the Ethereum blockchain's upcoming shift, which is already reducing demand for chips from cryptocurrency miners.

By Sam Reynolds, Bradley KeounSep 5, 2022

GPU prices have taken a toll, and it's hitting Nvidia's bottom line. (FritzchensFritz/Creative Commons, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

First Mover Americas: Bitcoin Languishes Below $20K as Energy Crisis in Europe Worsens

The latest price moves in crypto markets in context for Sept. 5, 2022.

By Lyllah Ledesma, Omkar GodboleSep 5, 2022

Bitcoin's future direction looks cloudy. (David Lucas via Metropolitan Museum of Art, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

Citi: Ether Extends Rally Ahead of the Merge Despite Bitcoin Weakness

There are key differences between previous upgrades to the Ethereum blockchain and now because, for the first time, digital assets are facing tightening financial conditions, the bank said.

By Will CannySep 5, 2022

Activist investor reported to have been pushing Riot to move into HPC. (Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

Ether Primed for Pre-Merge Rally After Wedge Breakout

Ether looked north, having exited a falling wedge pattern last week, analysts said. Buyers remained on the sidelines early Monday as Europe's worsening energy crisis zapped risk appetite.

By Omkar GodboleSep 5, 2022