What category does Ethereum belong to?

Ethereum is part of the Ethereum category in blockchain and cryptocurrency.

Ethereum — Definition, Meaning & How It Works

Q: What does Ethereum mean in blockchain?

A programmable blockchain that supports smart contracts. Ethereum is a public blockchain launched in 2015 that introduced general-purpose smart contracts. Its native currency is Ether (ETH), and its execution environment is the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Ethereum transitioned from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake in 2022.

What is Ethereum?

Ethereum is a public blockchain launched in 2015 that introduced general-purpose smart contracts. Its native currency is Ether (ETH), and its execution environment is the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Ethereum transitioned from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake in 2022.

Why Ethereum matters

Understanding Ethereum is part of building a solid mental model of how Bitcoin, blockchain and Web3 systems actually work. Concepts in the Ethereum category sit at the foundation of the broader stack — get them right and the rest is far easier.

Learn this interactively

Reading the definition is a start. ZeroToBlock teaches concepts like Ethereum through hands-on, browser-based simulations. Build the mental model by actually using it:

Smart Contract — Code on a blockchain that automatically enforces its rules.
Solidity — The most popular programming language for Ethereum smart contracts.
EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) — The execution environment for Ethereum smart contracts.
Proof of Stake — A consensus mechanism where validators stake capital instead of burning energy.

More ethereum terms

DeFi (Decentralized Finance) — Financial services built from smart contracts.
Gas — The unit measuring computational cost on Ethereum.
NFT (Non-Fungible Token) — A unique, non-interchangeable token on a blockchain.
Web3 — An umbrella term for blockchain-based, user-owned internet applications.
DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) — An on-chain organization governed by token holders.
dApp (Decentralized Application) — An app whose backend lives on a blockchain.
DEX (Decentralized Exchange) — A smart-contract-based trading protocol.
AMM (Automated Market Maker) — A pricing formula that replaces order books.

Keep exploring

Continue with the full blockchain glossary — 136 terms in total — or read the developer blog and FAQ for deeper context.