Module 7: Ethereum — Smart Contracts and the Future of Finance

Module 7: Ethereum — Smart Contracts and the Future of Finance

Introduction

Launched in 2015 as an evolution of Bitcoin's foundational ideas, Ethereum has revolutionized the digital landscape by enabling smart contracts—self-executing code that automates agreements without intermediaries.

This module delves into Ethereum's core mechanics, its distinctions from Bitcoin, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), smart contracts, token standards like ERC-20, and real-world decentralized applications (dApps).


3-Minute Explanation of Ethereum by Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin

"Ethereum is a platform that makes it possible for any developer to write and distribute next-generation decentralized applications."