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.

Podcasts

The Trio of Crypto Trends: Is It a Meme or Is It Hype? Ethereum Tokens, a Bitcoin Code Resurgence and Airdrop Fever

By Margaux Nijkerk, Sam Kessler, Bradley KeounFeb 15, 2024

Tech

The Protocol: Bitcoin's OP_CAT, Fake Ethereum Tokens, Starknet's Airdrop

CoinDesk's Jamie Crawley takes a look at the suddenly-high-profile proposal to revive Bitcoin's historic "OP_CAT" function as a way of enabling more development on the oldest blockchain. PLUS: the unofficial "ERC-404" tokens driving up fees on Ethereum and highlights from our Protocol Village column over the past week.

By Bradley KeounFeb 14, 2024

Tech

Protocol Village: Sommelier Expands to Ethereum Layer-2s Via Axelar, Starting With Arbitrum

The latest in blockchain tech upgrades, funding announcements and deals. For the period of Feb. 8-14.

By Bradley KeounFeb 14, 2024

Scene from Protocol Village at Consensus 2023 in Austin, Texas.

Finance

EigenLayer's Cap Lift Prompts $4B Inflow as ETH Restaking Heats Up

Capital locked on restaking protocols is now at $10 billion, in December it was just $350 million.

By Oliver KnightFeb 14, 2024

Tech

Starknet Blockchain Plans Much-Awaited Airdrop of New STRK Tokens Next Week

The airdrop will happen on Feb. 20, and eligible users have until June 20 to claim their tokens

By Margaux NijkerkFeb 14, 2024

Eli Ben-Sasson, Co-founder and CEO of StarkWare (StarkWare)

Tech

Ethereum Developers Create 'DN-404' Tokens After ERC-404s Send Network Fees Surging

The new token type claims to solve some of the drawbacks with ERC-404s, an experimental standard that launched last week – to such popularity that it's already driven up congestion on the Ethereum blockchain.

By Shaurya MalwaFeb 13, 2024

Markets

Ethereum Validator Entry Queue Signals Renewed Interest in Staking

The validator entry queue has jumped to 7,045, the highest since Oct. 6, according to data source ValidatorQueue.

By Omkar GodboleFeb 12, 2024

Opinion

Ethereum Has Gatekeepers (for Good Reason)

A new, non-standard token standard called ERC-404 circumvented the usual governance process and is capitalizing on a term with an actual definition.

By Daniel KuhnFeb 9, 2024

gate door cave catacomb prison jail (Thomas Vogel/unsplash)

Tech

What Is ERC-404? The Experimental Standard Whose First Token Has Rocketed 12,000% in One Week

ERC-404 allows multiple wallets to directly own a single NFT and, in the future, create a use case where that specific exposure can be tokenized and used to take out loans or stake holdings.

By Shaurya MalwaFeb 9, 2024