No matter the current investment trend, Ethereum remains one of the most well-known names in the digital asset space. This article will guide you through what Ethereum is, the technology behind it, its use cases, the advantages and limitations to consider, the potential price outlook of ETH, and how to buy the token.
Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that has developed and issued its own cryptocurrency called Ether (ETH). Blockchain technology enables the Ethereum network to provide security for digital transactions.
Compared to Bitcoin, the two cryptocurrencies share similarities as well as differences, each with their own advantages and limitations. Ethereum, however, uses a Proof-of-Stake mechanism to validate transactions and also serves as the foundation for many emerging technologies that originated from blockchain.
In reality, Ethereum and Bitcoin share several similarities, but at the same time, there are also notable differences that attract attention from both investors and developers.
When it comes to the positioning of the networks and their tokens, the founders of Ethereum envisioned their network as a “global programmable blockchain platform.” In other words, they see Ethereum as a network where developers can build applications using its available resources. Bitcoin, on the other hand, was designed primarily as an alternative medium of exchange, separate from traditional financial institutions.
Another key difference lies in the supply. Bitcoin has a capped supply of 21 million coins, whereas Ethereum has no maximum limit on the number of tokens that can be created.
Most importantly, transaction fees between the two networks differ significantly. On Ethereum, gas fees are paid by participants who perform transactions, and part of those fees are burned by the network. In contrast, on the Bitcoin network, miners receive and cover transaction fees.
Ethereum 2.0 is the next upgraded version of the Ethereum network, representing a transition from the Proof-of-Work mechanism to Proof-of-Stake. The goal of Ethereum 2.0 is to enhance the network in terms of adaptability, accessibility, and smoother transaction processing.
However, Ethereum 2.0 still requires multiple upgrade phases before reaching its complete version. Once fully implemented, it is expected to significantly boost the network’s capacity, enabling it to handle over 100,000 transactions per second.
In fact, the Ethereum network incorporates several technologies into its system, as follows:
Smart Contracts are programs deployed and executed on the Ethereum blockchain. They consist of data and code stored at a specific network address and play a key role in managing transactional information. Smart Contracts operate according to the pre-programmed instructions without the need for human intervention or control. Additionally, they help define rules and enforce them automatically through code, making the data immutable and unalterable.
dApps aim to focus on creating financial services using cryptocurrencies, enabling users to lend, borrow, speculate, and make payments without the need to share personal information.
Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is a program that enables a decentralized financial ecosystem. It operates by executing code across various nodes in the Ethereum network. Nodes call upon the EVM, which then processes Smart Contracts. The unit of work, called “gas,” measures computational efficiency for different operations, helping allocate resources and maintain network security.
When it comes to practical use, Ethereum has been applied widely in various ways, as follows:
Ethereum has been applied to virtual world gaming, with Decentraland being the most notable example. This blockchain-based game, which involves buying and selling virtual land, uses the Ethereum network to secure in-game items. Additionally, avatars, outfits, buildings, and environmental elements in the game are tokenized, serving as a medium to represent ownership.
NFTs use tokens to represent digital items, and these tokens are created on the Ethereum network. Each token corresponds to a digital item and comes with a private key, giving the NFT owner exclusive rights to hold it. NFTs can be sold or traded, with transactions conducted on the blockchain. Once the network verifies and confirms a transaction, ownership is properly transferred to the new party.
NFTs have been applied across various industries, ranging from sports trading cards to video content.
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are a method for collective decision-making across a network. The purpose of creating DAOs is to achieve various goals, such as developing Web3, building games, or making investments. DAOs utilize Smart Contracts and applications to tally votes from members, invest in ventures according to majority decisions, and verify actions, all without relying on third-party intermediaries.
For those interested in investing in ETH, in addition to studying market trends and price movements, it’s important to choose a trading platform carefully. Bitazza is another option for digital asset trading in Thailand. You can follow these simple steps:
Sign up with Bitazza – Register and open an account for use on the Bitazza website.
Log in – Use your registered email and password, and complete 2FA verification.
Access the “Market” menu – Explore market conditions and asset prices.
Select the asset pair you want to buy – Currently, the system supports the ETH/THB trading pair.
Review price movements – Check the price trends of your chosen asset pair, displayed in various chart formats.
Decide and click “Buy” – Enter the required details for your purchase.
Specify the purchase price and quantity – Input the price and the number of coins you want to buy. After reviewing all details, confirm the transaction.
Transaction completion – The system processes the transaction and automatically updates your balance, marking the transaction as complete.
Although Ethereum is recognized as a cryptocurrency that attracts significant interest from traders and investors, it’s important to study its advantages and limitations carefully before deciding to buy, as follows:
Decentralized Network: Ethereum operates on a decentralized principle, meaning the network does not rely on a central authority or any single individual. This builds trust among users and ensures network security. Importantly, all transactions are encrypted and cannot be altered or tampered with.
Flexible and Adaptable: Developers can create dApps and tokens tailored to specific use cases. Ethereum supports Smart Contracts through innovations like the Solidity programming language, enabling a wide range of new projects, including DeFi platforms, NFTs, and marketplaces.
Continuous Growth and Ecosystem Expansion: Ethereum is open-source, allowing developers to contribute to new innovations. This fosters the creation of projects, protocols, and applications. The rapid adoption of tokens and dApps attracts more users and investors, expanding the network’s reach.
Standards and Interoperability: Ethereum follows standards such as ERC-20 and ERC-721, which enhance asset interoperability on the blockchain and are widely recognized across the ecosystem.
User Engagement and Ecosystem Sustainability: Smart Contracts encourage users to participate in network security, validate transactions, develop dApps, and contribute to the sustainability of the Ethereum ecosystem.
Transition to Ethereum 2.0: Moving from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) aims to improve network scalability, efficiency, and energy usage.
Scalability Limitations: Ethereum faces challenges in network scalability, especially during periods of high user activity, which can slow transaction verification and increase fees. Currently, Ethereum can handle only about 30 transactions per second (TPS), far below traditional payment systems like Visa, which can process thousands of TPS.
High Computational and Energy Consumption: Ethereum still uses the Proof-of-Work (PoW) mechanism, similar to Bitcoin, requiring mining through solving complex mathematical problems. This raises environmental concerns and contributes significantly to the cryptocurrency mining carbon footprint.
Regulatory Challenges: As Ethereum and cryptocurrencies gain popularity, they come under closer scrutiny from governments worldwide. Unclear legal frameworks force projects on Ethereum to adapt and face ongoing uncertainty in regulatory compliance.
Competition from Other Platforms: Ethereum faces intense competition from platforms like Binance Smart Chain, Solana, and Polkadot, which offer higher transaction throughput and lower fees. This makes them attractive alternatives for developers and users, especially when Ethereum experiences network congestion during peak usage.
Complexity of Application Development: Developing applications on Ethereum can be complicated, particularly for new developers unfamiliar with its architecture and programming language Solidity. Testing and debugging Smart Contracts is critical but often requires significant time and resources.
Security Risks: While Ethereum is considered highly secure, vulnerabilities in Smart Contracts can lead to substantial financial losses. Historically, there have been multiple hacks and attacks on DeFi platforms built on Ethereum, highlighting the ongoing need for vigilance and continuous security improvements.
As mentioned earlier, factors supporting Ethereum’s growth include continuous network development, such as the Dencun upgrade, which focuses on improving scalability and reducing transaction fees.
In addition, investors already show strong interest in the cryptocurrency, and the increasing use of Ethereum in various applications further drives demand, which could positively influence ETH’s price in the future.
Looking ahead, here are some notable analyses regarding Ethereum’s price trends over the next five years:
However, investors should be aware of the volatility of the cryptocurrency market and carefully study the information before making any investment decisions. While Ethereum’s long-term outlook appears positive, external factors such as regulatory changes or economic events could also impact its price.
Ethereum remains one of the most important blockchain networks in the crypto ecosystem, with strengths in supporting Smart Contracts, developing dApps that enable decentralization, and maintaining a fully functioning internal economy. Despite facing challenges such as scalability, transaction fees, and competition from other networks, continuous development has reinforced Ethereum as a foundational platform for Web3 in the long term. However, investors should closely monitor technological developments and regulatory changes to make informed investment decisions.
Disclaimers
Remark: The views, information, knowledge, and opinions expressed herein are those of the individuals involved and do not represent the views of Bitazza or its employees. Neither this email nor the content presented constitutes investment advice.
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