Читать книгу Cryptocurrency All-in-One For Dummies - Peter Kent, Kiana Danial - Страница 149

Ether is the name of the cryptocurrency for the Ethereum blockchain. It was named after the substance that was believed to permeate all space and make the universe possible. In that sense, Ether is the substance that makes Ethereum possible. Ether incentivizes the network to secure itself through proof-of-work mining, like how the token Bitcoin incentivizes the Bitcoin network. Ether is needed to execute any code within the Ethereum network. When utilized to execute a contract in Ethereum, Ether is referred to as gas.

Executing the code within a smart contract also costs some amount of Ether. This feature gives the token added utility. As long as individuals want to use Ethereum for applications and contracts, Ether will hold a value beyond speculation.

The wild growth in the value of Ether has made it a popular token to speculate on. It’s widely traded on exchanges around the world. Some new hedge funds are looking at it as an investment vehicle. However, the volatile nature and low market depth make Ether a risky investment. Find out more about Ether, including how to buy, spend, and trade it, in Book 4, Chapter 1.