Читать книгу Cryptocurrency All-in-One For Dummies - Peter Kent, Kiana Danial - Страница 118

The Ethereum blockchain is one of the largest and most powerful blockchains in the world. It was designed to build dApps, which are applications that are built within a trustless, decentralized network. Within the Ethereum network, developers utilize smart contracts to build these applications. Ethereum also utilizes a cryptocurrency called Ether to reward users for providing computing power and creating the trustless system that these smart contracts need in order to execute.

Smart contracts are not really like a typical business contract. Instead, smart contracts are code deployed across a decentralized network. Like a business contract, they have predefined terms. A key difference is that smart contracts are enforced by their blockchain network. They’re an important computing innovation because they allow individuals who don’t know or trust one another to collaborate without fear that the other party won’t perform as outlined by the terms that the two parties have agreed on.

Blockchains that utilize a cryptocurrency can sometimes be called “trustless” systems because the code is enforced by the network (as opposed to a business contract, which is enforced by a court system).

In the following sections, you set up accounts to purchase your first Bitcoin. You also exchange some of the Bitcoin you buy for Ether so you can utilize Ethereum dApps in the following sections.