Ethereum News

Ethereum (ETH) was launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and a team of co-founders as the world's first programmable blockchain, enabling smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) that extend far beyond simple peer-to-peer transactions. After transitioning from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensus through "The Merge" in 2022, Ethereum now processes transactions more efficiently while maintaining its position as the foundation for decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web3 innovation.

The Ethereum ecosystem encompasses thousands of decentralized applications, from DeFi protocols like Uniswap and Aave to NFT marketplaces, gaming platforms, and layer-2 scaling solutions like Arbitrum and Polygon. Developers, validators, and users interact within this programmable economy where ETH serves as both a digital currency and the fuel powering smart contract execution through gas fees.

CoinDesk covers all aspects of Etherum, from protocol upgrades and scaling developments to DeFi innovation and regulatory implications. Our reporters track everything from Ethereum's roadmap milestones and staking developments to the broader implications of programmable money and decentralized autonomous organizations.

DISCLOSURE: This text was written with the assistance of AI, then reviewed by a person.

Markets

First Mover: SushiSwap's Billion-Dollar 'Rug Pull' Is Thriller to Crypto Geeks

The "SUSHI rug pull" is a gripping drama in the fast-moving arena of decentralized finance, which apparently is still limited to crypto geeks.

By Bradley Keoun, Omkar Godbole, Sebastian SinclairSep 8, 2020, 8:27 a.m. EDT

The SushiSwap saga appears to have more plot twists ahead. (George M. Groutas/Creative Commons, modified by CoinDesk)

Tech

Ethereum Developers Weigh Gas Rule Change to Ease Fee Pressure

As Ethereum fees soar, a proposal to nix “gas tokens,” which let users prepay fees when they’re cheap and spend them later, is getting renewed attention.

By William FoxleySep 7, 2020, 9:35 a.m. EDT

Markets

First Mover: Buying Bitcoin's Dip, Betting Against Tether and Weighing the Jobs Report

Crypto traders appeared to be buying the dip after Thursday's 11% plunge. ALSO: There's a contract for that: How to hedge Tether's credit risk.

By Bradley Keoun, William Foxley, Omkar GodboleSep 4, 2020, 9:24 a.m. EDT

There's now a credit-default swap contract on Tether, allowing traders to bet on the credit risk inherent in the dollar-linked stablecoin. (Thomas Rowlandson/Metropolitan Museum of Art, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

3 Reasons Bitcoin Just Tanked Below $11K for First Time in a Month

Cryptocurrency analysts attributed the drop to a combination of risk-off sentiment in traditional markets, DeFi exhaustion and miner selling.

By Bradley KeounSep 3, 2020, 1:22 p.m. EDT

Bitcoin price chart versus ether and the S&P 500. (TradingView)

Tech

Buterin, Ethereum Developers Focus on Congestion as Fees Spike Over 600% in 1 Month

Median fees have spiked nearly 900% since Aug. 2.

By William Foxley, Zack VoellSep 3, 2020, 10:45 a.m. EDT

Ethereum average and median fees since Aug. 2

Markets

First Mover: As Bitcoin Falls for Second Day, Long-Term Holders Probably Won't Care

The growing number of long-term bitcoin investors might be the cryptocurrency's most simple bullish indicator – more so than "600,000 asteroids."

By Bradley Keoun, Omkar GodboleSep 3, 2020, 9:30 a.m. EDT

The simplest bitcoin analysis might just be the number of investors holding for a year or more. (401(K) 2013/Creative Commons, modified by CoinDesk)

Markets

Around the Crypto World in 15 Charts: CoinDesk Research's August Review

In 15 charts, the CoinDesk Monthly Review for August details BTC's performance, its relationship to fiat currencies and Ethereum’s growing congestion problem.

By Noelle AchesonSep 2, 2020, 2:40 p.m. EDT