Topic
Learning resources
Level
College & Adult
Format
Online Class, Online Video
Ethereum is a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts: applications that run exactly as programmed without any possibility of fraud or third party interference.
Ethereum is used to build decentralized applications (dapps) on its platform. A dapp is an application that is powered by Ethereum’s decentralized infrastructure. Dapps are built on the Ethereum blockchain and use Ethereum’s native token, ether, for their fuel.
Ethereum’s smart contracts are programmable, meaning that they can be used to encode complex interactions and transactions. This makes Ethereum a powerful platform for building dapps that can ranging from decentralized exchanges to voting systems to financial applications.
Ethereum is also unique in that it allows users to create their own decentralized currency, tokens, on its platform. These tokens can be used to represent anything, from assets to loyalty points, and can be traded on Ethereum’s decentralized exchange.
Building on Ethereum’s decentralized infrastructure, developers can create robust, decentralized applications that have the potential to disrupt existing centralized businesses and monopolies.
In Ethereum, learning can be divided into two main categories: learning about Ethereum's blockchain capabilities, and learning about Ethereum's smart contract programming language, Solidity.
For those new to blockchain technology, Ethereum offers a comprehensive introduction to blockchain programming. This can be found in the Ethereum whitepaper, as well as in various blog posts and articles written by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. For those wanting to learn more about Solidity, the Ethereum Community Alliance offers a few resources, such as an online course, as well as a Udemy course. There is also a Solidity online REPL.
In order to learn Ethereum, one must first be familiar with the basics of blockchain technology. Ethereum builds upon the concepts of blockchain and enables the development of decentralized applications (DApps) that can be ran on a network of nodes, or computers, that verifying transaction.
Once someone is familiar with the basics of blockchain, they can begin to learn the basics of Ethereum. This includes learning about Ethereum’s native token, Ether (ETH), as well as how to use the platform to create and run smart contracts.
Those who want to become more proficient in Ethereum can learn about more advanced concepts such as gas, gas prices, and how to optimize smart contracts for efficient execution. Additionally, those who want to build DApps on Ethereum can learn about programming languages that are compatible with the platform, such as Solidity.