# Ethereum

By [NICO](https://paragraph.com/@nico41niko) · 2023-01-09

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Ethereum is the name of a blockchain platform for building distributed applications (DApps) and smart contracts, and the generic name of a related open source software project, the Ethereum Project\[1\]. It is being developed by the Ethereum Project\[1\]. Ether" is used as the currency (internal currency) required to use Ethereum, and is intended to be used as a utility currency. It is also designed as a general-purpose computer and can run a virtual machine.

With Ethereum, the history of smart contract fulfillment is recorded on a blockchain on a P2P network called the Ethereum Network. Ethereum also has a Turing-complete programming language for writing smart contracts, and network participants will be able to write and execute arbitrary DApps and smart contracts on the blockchain on this network. The legitimacy of the network participants will be guaranteed by recording the results of the execution of smart contracts on the blockchain, called mining, for "Ether" . Such a mechanism makes it possible to share program execution and its results with the entire P2P as the execution environment, without relying on a specific centralized management organization.

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*Originally published on [NICO](https://paragraph.com/@nico41niko/ethereum)*