Ethereum (ETH): key facts and live price
Ethereum (ETH) fact sheet with live price · reviewed November 4, 2026
Ethereum is a blockchain that runs programs called smart contracts, which power most tokens, stablecoins, DeFi apps and NFTs. Its coin, ether (ETH), pays transaction fees and is staked to secure the network. Read the full beginner's guide →
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Key facts
| Launched | July 30, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Created by | Vitalik Buterin and co-founders |
| How it's secured | Proof of stake (since September 2022) |
| Supply | About 120 million ETH; no fixed maximum |
| New blocks | Every 12 seconds |
| Smallest units | 1 gwei = 0.000000001 ETH; 1 wei = 10⁻¹⁸ ETH |
| Symbol | Ξ |
| Ways to invest besides coins | US spot Ether ETFs since July 2024 |
Who runs it
No company runs Ethereum. Several independent teams build the software clients, the nonprofit Ethereum Foundation funds research, and about a million validator accounts secure the network. Upgrades are agreed in public developer calls and only take effect when node operators install them.
What it's used for
Ethereum is the main home of tokens and crypto apps: stablecoins like USDC, decentralized exchanges and lending, NFTs, and layer 2 networks such as Base and Arbitrum that settle back to it.
How it works
Validators lock up 32 ETH each to propose and check blocks, and can lose part of it for cheating. Every action costs gas, paid in ETH; part of each fee is burned. More in what is Ethereum?
Where things stand (November 2026)
The Pectra (May 2025) and Fusaka (December 2025) upgrades made staking more flexible and gave layer 2 networks more cheap data space, so most everyday activity now happens on layer 2s. US spot ether ETFs have traded since July 2024.
Risks to know
- Smart contracts can have bugs, and malicious approvals can drain a wallet.
- Fees can spike when the network is busy.
- ETH's price is volatile, and its supply can grow when activity is low.
Buying and storing it
If you decide to buy, use a regulated exchange you reach directly, check fees with the true cost calculator, and store long-term holdings in a wallet you control, with the seed phrase written down offline. Read how to buy crypto safely. This page isn't a recommendation to buy.
Questions
Is Ethereum a cryptocurrency?
Ethereum is the network; ether (ETH) is its cryptocurrency. People use both names.
Can you still mine Ethereum?
No. Ethereum switched to proof of stake in 2022.
Compare Ethereum
See it side by side, with live data: Bitcoin vs. Ethereum, Ethereum vs. Solana, BNB vs. Ethereum, Ethereum vs. Cardano. Convert it with the ETH to USD converter. Track it in the private portfolio tracker.
Where to next
Sources
Facts checked against the sources listed, as of November 4, 2026. Live price data by CoinGecko. Educational only; not financial advice. How we write and check pages.