What is Ethereum?

Ethereum is an open-source blockchain platform created in 2015 by Russian-Canadian programmer Vitalik Buterin. Unlike Bitcoin, a purely digital currency system, Ethereum's central innovation lies in the introduction of the "smart contracts" feature, which allows developers to build decentralized applications (DApps) on the blockchain. Ethereum's blockchain not only records transaction data but also executes code logic, making it a global distributed computing platform. According to Hong Kong Cyberport's 2023 blockchain ecosystem report, Ethereum accounts for more than 65% of the total value locked in global decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, demonstrating its dominance in the blockchain space.

Difference Between Ethereum and Bitcoin

Bitcoin is designed as a peer-to-peer electronic money system that focuses primarily on storage and value transfer capabilities. Its scripting language is relatively simple and does not support complex logical operations. In contrast, Ethereum was positioned as a programmable blockchain from the get-go, using Turing's comprehensive programming language (such as Solidity) that allowed developers to create complex smart contracts at will. In terms of consensus mechanism, Bitcoin uses proof-of-work (PoW), while Ethereum switched to proof-of-stake (PoS) after completing the Merge in 2022, significantly reducing energy consumption by 99.95%. This change allows Ethereum to better align with current sustainability needs andIt offers a more environmentally friendly option.

The role of Ethereum (ETH).

Ethereum is the native token of the Ethereum network and has several functions. Second, ETH is the primary asset of staking, and validators must stake 32 ETH to participate in block generation. Additionally, ETH is widely used as collateral, liquidity provision, and store of value in the DeFi ecosystem. According to data from the Hong Kong Fintech Association, the size of ETH held by institutional investors in Hong Kong in 2023 increased by 120% compared to 2022, reflecting their sharesCryptocurrency InvestmentsThe target is attracting more and more attention. AndFNB Hong Kong CryptoETH is expected to be one of the first assets to be incorporated.

Smart Contracts

Smart contracts are a central innovation in Ethereum conceptualized by legal scholar and cryptographer Nick Szabo in the 1990s. Smart contracts are essentially automated protocols that run on the blockchain, and when predefined conditions are triggered, the terms of the contract are automatically executed without the intervention of a third party. For example, an insurance policy can automatically resolve an insurance claim if a flight is delayed by two hours, making the entire process seamless and tamper-proof. The code of smart contracts is open-source and auditable, which significantly improves the reliability of transactions, in line with the transparency requirements of Google's E-E-A-T principles.

What is a smart contract?

The working principle of smart contracts is similar to that of a vending machine, where users enter qualified inputs (such as tokens) and the machine produces predetermined goods without the intervention of salespeople. On the technical side, smart contracts include three key elements: 2) Trigger conditions (timestamp, external data entry, etc.). 3) Code that runs autonomously. The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is the operating environment for these contracts to be executed, ensuring consistent state across nodes around the world. The HKMA's "e-HKD" pilot program, launched in 2023, explores the use of smart contracts to enable programmable payments, indicating that the technology has been recognized by regulators.

Applications of smart contracts

Smart contracts have a wide range of application scenarios, and in the financial realm, they can be used for derivative payments, cross-border payments, and supply chain finance automation. In the legal field, digital identity verification and automatic execution of wills can be carried out. In the entertainment industry, it supports the creation and exchange of NFTs (non-fungible tokens). Hong Kong has been actively developing the virtual asset market in recent years, and many of them haveTypes of special purpose acquisition companies have begun to focus on investing in blockchain projects. The following table lists common use cases for smart contracts.

Decentralized Applications (DApps)

Decentralized applications (DApps) are applications built on a blockchain, where their backend code runs on a distributed network rather than a centralized server. Compared to traditional applications, DApps have three main characteristics: 1) open source and standalone operation. 2) The data is encrypted and stored on the blockchain. 3) Use crypto tokens as an incentive mechanism. According to DappRadar statistics, at the beginning of 2024, the number of active DApps on Ethereum surpassed 3,000, with an average daily trading volume of $2.3 billion. As an international financial center, Hong Kong is actively embracing DApps technologies such as Kikitrade, a blockchain startup nurtured by Cyberport, which offers easy access to DApps for users in Asia.

The DApps ecosystem includes several layers: the infrastructure layer (e.g., IPFS storage), the protocol layer (e.g., ERC-20 token standard), and the application layer (e.g., compound lending platform). In terms of financial innovation, DApps have created new types such as yield miningCryptocurrency InvestmentsIn this mode, users can earn 5% to 20% per year by providing liquidity. However, it should be noted that DApps still face challenges such as scalability limitations and high gas fees, which are also central issues that need to be addressed by the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade. forWhen evaluating DApps projects, you should focus on user activity, contract security, and tokenomics.

Ethereum's development prospects

Ethereum's future development will be influenced by three factors: technology upgrade, the regulatory environment, and green innovation. On the technical side, Ethereum 2.0's sharding technology has improved transaction processing speeds from 15-30 TPS to 10 TPS, comparable to traditional payment networks such as Visa. In terms of supervision, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission introduced a licensing regime for virtual asset trading platforms in June 2023FNB Hong Kong CryptoThis could attract more institutional investors to the Ethereum ecosystem. According to PwC, by 2025, the Asia-Pacific blockchain solutions market is expected to reach $176 billion, with a CAGR of 66%.

From the perspective of application prospects, Ethereum has great potential in the following areas: 1) Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) settlement layer; 2) Green finance platform for the monitoring of carbon credits. 3) The underlying economic system of the metaverse. According to a report by the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council, 79% of local financial institutions are piloting Ethereum-based blockchain projects. For investors, they should pay attention to the competitiveness of Ethereum and other public chains (such as Solana and Avalanche), as well as the evolution of staking revenue under the PoS mechanism. The following key metrics are used to assess the health of Ethereum's development:

• Daily active addresses (reflecting network usage)
• Median gas costs (measure of user cost burden)
• DeFi總鎖倉價值(TVL)
• Developer Activity Index (GitHub submissions)

Ethereum 2.0

Ethereum 2.0, also known as Serenity, is a comprehensive Ethereum upgrade plan that aims to address three major issues: scalability, security, and sustainability. Upgrades are not done all at once, but in several stages.spac hong kong

Beacon Chain (launched December 2020)

As the consensus layer of Ethereum 2.0, Beacon Chain introduces a PoS mechanism to replace energy-intensive PoW mining. As of January 2024, the total amount of ETH pledged on the Beacon Chain surpassed 3,100, accounting for 26% of the circulating supply, with an annual staking yield of around 4.2%. This transition will allow ordinary users to participate in maintaining the network's security through staking, with a minimum of 0.01 ETH participating via liquid staking services such as Lido.

Merger (completed September 2022)

This is one of the most complex upgrades in blockchain history, integrating the original Ethereum mainnet with the Beacon Chain. After the Merge, Ethereum's energy consumption was reduced by approximately 99.95%, which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of the entire Irish state. forCryptocurrency InvestmentsFor those who do, the Merge will result in a deflationary mechanism, with around 0.5% of ETH supply burned each year, which could support prices in the long run.

Sharding (to be implemented in 2024-2025)

Sharding technology divides the network into 64 chains that are processed in parallel, allowing for exponential growth in data storage and transaction processing capabilities. This directly solves the problem of high gas fees for DApps and supports more complex application scenarios. The Blockchain Institute at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology predicts that after the completion of sharding, Ethereum could handle the data throughput of applications at the enterprise levelOther institutions provide a more stable investment infrastructure.

Overall, the gradual implementation of Ethereum 2.0 solidifies its position as the "computer of the world." As the technology matures and the regulatory framework becomes clearer, EthereumFNB Hong Kong CryptoThe product's significant underlying assets build a bridge for the integration of traditional and decentralized finance. Investors should continue to monitor the progress of upgrades, the development of layer-2 solutions, and institutional adoption in order to capture investment opportunities in the evolution of blockchain technology.

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