Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum is the blockchain most of crypto is actually built on. Bitcoin stores value; Ethereum runs code — the smart contracts behind DeFi, stablecoins, NFTs, and the majority of tokens trading today. This hub collects MEXC Learn's Ethereum coverage, from first-principles explainers to breakdowns of network upgrades and ETF mechanics. New to ETH? Start with how Ethereum differs from Bitcoin, what Ether is actually used for, and why the network charges gas fees denominated in gwei. From there the coverage splits three ways. Network and technology. Ethereum stopped being a mined chain in September 2022, when The Merge replaced miners with validators staking ETH. Later upgrades kept reshaping the economics — Dencun, in March 2024, introduced blob storage and cut Layer 2 transaction costs sharply. Articles here cover proof of stake, ETH 2.0 terminology, rollups, and what each upgrade changed in practice. DeFi and applications. Ethereum settles trades on decentralized exchanges, collateral in lending markets, and the liquid restaking products built on top of both. This track explains how those mechanisms work rather than just naming them. Markets and institutional access. US spot Ethereum ETFs began trading in July 2024, opening ETH exposure to investors who will never touch a wallet. Coverage here tracks ETF structure, staking yield, gas fee cycles, and how ETH trades against BTC. Every guide is written for readers who want the mechanism, not just the headline.
Ethereum FAQ
Ethereum is a programmable blockchain — it runs smart contracts, which are programs that execute automatically when conditions are met. Bitcoin was designed primarily to move and store value. That difference explains almost everything downstream: DeFi, stablecoins, and most tokens live on Ethereum because Bitcoin's design deliberately does not support them.
No. Ethereum stopped using proof of work in September 2022, in an upgrade called The Merge. Validators who stake ETH now propose and confirm blocks instead of miners running hardware. The change cut Ethereum's energy use by more than 99% and replaced mining rewards with staking rewards.
Gas is the fee paid to have the network process a transaction, priced in gwei — one billionth of an ETH. Fees float with demand: when many people compete for space in the same block, the price to get included rises. Simple transfers cost less than complex smart contract interactions.
Yes. Running your own validator requires 32 ETH. Pooled and liquid staking services let you stake smaller amounts, usually issuing a token representing your staked position so the capital is not locked. Yield is not fixed — it moves with the total amount of ETH staked and how busy the network is.
Create an account and complete KYC verification, then fund it by card, bank transfer, P2P, or a crypto deposit from an external wallet. Most users buy a stablecoin such as USDT first, then trade it for ETH on the ETH/USDT spot market. From there you can hold the ETH, withdraw it to your own wallet, or move it into other products.