Ethereum is the leading smart contract platform. It allows developers to build decentralised applications (dApps) and enabled the explosion of DeFi, NFTs, and token issuance. Transitioned from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake in 2022.
DeFi refers to a suite of financial services — lending, borrowing, trading, yield generation — built on public blockchains, primarily Ethereum. It aims to replicate and disintermediate traditional finance without banks or intermediaries. At its peak in 2021, over $180 billion was locked in DeFi protocols.
Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain platform built on peer-reviewed academic research. Founded by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson, it takes a methodical, research-first approach to development. Its Ouroboros consensus mechanism was the first provably secure PoS protocol.
Polkadot is a Layer 0 multi-chain network that allows different blockchains to interoperate. Created by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood, it uses a relay chain and parachain architecture letting multiple specialised blockchains run in parallel and communicate securely.
Uniswap is the world's leading decentralised exchange (DEX), built on Ethereum. It pioneered the Automated Market Maker (AMM) model, replacing order books with liquidity pools. Anyone can provide liquidity and earn fees, or swap any ERC-20 token without creating an account.
Avalanche is a smart contract platform that achieves high throughput through a novel Avalanche consensus mechanism. It supports custom blockchains called Subnets, making it attractive for enterprise and gaming. Its C-Chain is EVM-compatible, allowing Ethereum dApps to deploy easily.
Smart contracts are self-executing programs stored on a blockchain that automatically enforce the terms of an agreement when predefined conditions are met. They are the foundation of DeFi, NFTs, and decentralised autonomous organisations.
Layer 2 (L2) is a collective term for off-chain scaling solutions that inherit the security of a Layer 1 blockchain while processing transactions faster and cheaper. Major categories include Optimistic Rollups (Arbitrum, Optimism) and ZK Rollups (StarkNet, zkSync).
Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) is an ERC-20 token on Ethereum representing Bitcoin at a 1:1 ratio. Each WBTC is backed by real Bitcoin held in custody by BitGo. It enables Bitcoin holders to participate in Ethereum's DeFi ecosystem without selling their BTC.
MetaMask is the world's most popular Ethereum wallet, available as a browser extension and mobile app. It allows users to interact with decentralised applications directly from their browser, store Ethereum and ERC-20 tokens, and sign transactions. With over 30 million monthly active users, it is the primary gateway to Web3.
Solidity is the primary programming language for writing Ethereum smart contracts. It is a statically-typed, contract-oriented language with syntax influenced by JavaScript and C++. It powers virtually all DeFi protocols, NFT contracts, and DAOs on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains.