What is the core value of Ethereum?

Ethereum is known as the "operating system of the digital world," and its core values are reflected in the following four points:

1. Functional Breakthrough: Supports smart contracts and can "run programs"

Bitcoin has a single function (only peer-to-peer transfers), but Ethereum supports smart contracts—developers can write programs on the chain, embed rules into contracts, and have them automatically executed by global nodes after deployment. It can be compared to the “Apple iOS system,” which allows for the development of various applications.

2. Ecological Enlightenment: Initiates the explosion of DeFi, NFT, and DAO

- Without Ethereum, there would be no DeFi (decentralized finance): On-chain lending, trading, and wealth management models could not be realized;

- Without Ethereum, there would be no NFT boom: The “confirmation of rights” (ownership certification) for digital assets like digital art and virtual avatars would lose its foundation;

- Without Ethereum, there would be no rise of DAO: Community self-governance projects would be difficult to implement;

It can be said that most applications of Web3 were born in the Ethereum ecosystem first.

3. Ecological Effect: First-mover advantage builds barriers

Ethereum is the first public blockchain with smart contracts, attracting a large number of developers, projects, and funds early on, creating a first-mover advantage akin to the “Apple App Store.” Although later competitors like Solana and Avalanche have emerged as “Ethereum killers,” none have truly shaken its position.

4. Continuous Evolution: Technological iteration maintains vitality

Ethereum has transitioned from “Proof of Work (PoW)” to “Proof of Stake (PoS),” significantly reducing energy consumption; it will continue to upgrade in the future, aiming to increase speed and reduce gas fees. Unlike Bitcoin, which has a “fixed function,” Ethereum is always in a state of technological evolution.

Bitcoin solves the problem of “confirmation of digital asset ownership,” while Ethereum addresses the question of “can applications run in the digital world”—it is not just a “coin,” but the underlying operating system for the entire Web3 world.