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.

Tech

Polygon, StarkWare Tout New 'Circle STARKs' as Breakthrough for Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Circle STARKs are supposed to accelerate the proving process for zero-knowledge rollups, according to a white paper published by Polygon Labs and StarkWare.

By Margaux NijkerkFeb 21, 2024

Brendan Farmer, Co-Founder of Polygon (Shutterstock/CoinDesk)

Tech

The Protocol: Restaking Tokens Are Exploding, and Restaking Isn't Even Live

In this week's issue of our weekly blockchain tech newsletter, Sam Kessler explores how "liquid restaking tokens" or LRTs are remaking decentralized finance. PLUS: Starknet's STRK airdrop, Stellar's smart-contract facelift and bitcoin's supply crunch.

By Bradley KeounFeb 21, 2024

Finance

New Technology Will Have Institutions Lining Up for Crypto

The zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine enables real world asset tokenization on a far greater scale, says Colin Butler at Polygon Labs.

By Colin ButlerFeb 21, 2024

Markets

STRK Tokens Claimed Hit 420M in a Day as On-Chain Metrics Soar

The Starknet blockchain hit a record-high 1.06 million transactions on Tuesday, with a peak of 45.2 transactions per second.

By Oliver KnightFeb 21, 2024

Markets

Restaking Protocol Kelp DAO Brings Liquidity to EigenLayer Points

Kelp DAO's newly announced kelp earned points (KEP) token brings liquidity to EigenLayer Points.

By Omkar GodboleFeb 21, 2024

EigenLayer CEO Sreeram Kannan (University of Michigan, modified by CoinDesk)

Videos

Three Major Ethereum Stories to Watch in 2024

Amid excitement around the spot bitcoin ETF approval, CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie presents three major Ethereum ecosystem stories to watch in 2024, including the much-anticipated Dencun upgrade, steam around the spot ether ETF narrative and Ethereum's dominance in decentralized applications, NFTs, and tokenized assets.

Feb 20, 2024

Tech

Liquid Restaking Protocol Puffer Rakes in $1B in Deposits in Just 3 Weeks

Liquid restaking protocols are seeing ample demand from users as speculation mounts over potential applications for the Ethereum restaking juggernaut EigenLayer, and the prospects for rewards paid out to early users.

By Sam KesslerFeb 20, 2024

Puffer fish (Stelio Puccinelli/Unsplash)

Finance

Starknet Token STRK Begins Trading at $5 After Mammoth Airdrop

Fully diluted value of STRK reached as high as $50 billion with an initial market cap of $3.64 billion.

By Oliver Knight, Margaux NijkerkFeb 20, 2024

Pyth issues token airdrop (ian dooley/Unsplash)

Markets

Ether Could Be the Next 'Institutional Darling,' Bernstein Says

The second-largest cryptocurrency is probably the only digital asset other than bitcoin likely to get spot ETF approval from the SEC, the report said.

By Will CannyFeb 19, 2024