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.

Opinion

Blockchain Tech Predictions for 2024, From Experts at Ripple, Coinbase, a16z, Starknet

We assembled 10 new year's predictions for blockchain tech trends and developments, from the experts. They might be right.

By Bradley KeounDec 20, 2023, 11:35 a.m. ET

Blockchain's fortune tellers have no more a crystal ball than in any other sphere of life. But these predictions are as good as any. (Francis Hayman/Metropolitan Museum of Art, modified by CoinDesk)

Tech

Lido Tests of 'Distributed Validator Technology' Portend 2024 Decentralization Push

A big selling point of blockchain networks is that they are "decentralized." But just a few validators, including those run by Lido, have gradually amassed a lion's share of the power over the dominant smat-contracts blockchain, Ethereum. One idea is to decentralize the validators themselves.

By Sam KesslerDec 20, 2023, 8:00 a.m. ET

"Validators are single-engine planes. If a validator goes down, it's offline," said Brett Li, head of growth at Obol Labs. (Daniel Eledut/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Tech

Metis, Ethereum Layer-2 Network, Creates $100M Fund as Decentralized Sequencer Launch Nears

The distribution of funds is planned for the first quarter of 2024, and supposed to occur a week after Metis' decentralized sequencer will go live.

By Margaux NijkerkDec 18, 2023, 9:00 a.m. ET

Los rollups no tienen la seguridad de Ethereum. (Luigi Pozzoli/Unsplash)

Tech

Polygon Stops Work on 'Edge,' Used to Build Dogechain, as Focus Turns to ZK

Polygon Labs, a developer of scaling networks for Ethereum, has shifted toward "Polygon CDK," a blockchain-development kit powered by zero-knowledge cryptography. The older "Polygon Edge" was used by Dogechain, in an unofficial effort to build a Dogecoin-oriented smart-contracts network.

By Bradley KeounDec 15, 2023, 4:27 p.m. ET

Tech

Arbitrum Throws Hat In Ring for Celo's Migration to Layer-2 Blockchain

Celo originally planned to build its Ethereum layer-2 network with Optimism's OP Stack. Then Polygon and Matter Labs pitched their stacks. Now, Arbitrum, the biggest layer-2, wants in on the bake-off.

By Margaux NijkerkDec 14, 2023, 12:07 p.m. ET

Arbitrum booth at ETHDenver (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)

Markets

JPMorgan Is Cautious About Crypto Markets Into 2024

Ether is expected to outperform bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies next year due to the Ethereum blockchain’s EIP-4844 upgrade, the report said.

By Will CannyDec 14, 2023, 3:59 a.m. ET

Tech

Protocol Village: COTI Layer-1 Blockchain to Become Ethereum Layer-2 Network

The latest in blockchain tech upgrades, funding announcements and deals. For the period of Dec 7-Dec. 13, with live updates throughout.

By Bradley KeounDec 13, 2023, 3:36 p.m. ET

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

Tech

Ethereum's Buterin Floats Prospect of Taking Some Layer-2 Functions Back on Main Chain

Vitalik Buterin, a member of the Ethereum Foundation's executive board, once pushed "layer-2" networks as a way to provide faster and cheaper transactions. Now he's got ideas for "enshrining" some of those functions on the main chain.

By Bradley KeounDec 13, 2023, 2:56 p.m. ET

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin (Bradley Keoun/modified by CoinDesk)

Tech

The Protocol: Crypto Spring Is Airdrop Season With Tokens From Starknet, LayerZero

In this week's issue of The Protocol newsletter, we're covering Worldcoin's latest update, airdrop season, the new Bitcoin wallet from Jack Dorsey's company and the "data availability" network Celestia's market-moving plan to plug into Polygon's blockchain development kit.

By Bradley KeounDec 13, 2023, 2:39 p.m. ET