What is ethereum: the full picture

Any fair reply to "What is ethereum?" starts with two older coins that casino cashiers often list beside Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin, which do quite different jobs. Ethereum runs programs and carries tokens, while Litecoin mostly moves value from one address to another. Knowing how each network charges its fees and what its addresses look like keeps a transfer on the right chain, where a mistake may cost the whole amount. Nothing here is a reason to buy either coin.

Ethereum is a public blockchain whose native coin is called ether, usually written ETH. Unlike Bitcoin, the chain does more than move its own coin: it runs small programs called smart contracts, and many tokens live on it, including the ERC20 version of USDT. Every action on Ethereum is paid for in ETH, even when the thing being sent is a token. A wallet that holds only USDT on this chain cannot move it without a little ETH beside it. The price of ETH moves up and down like any other coin.

An Ethereum wallet is an app or device that holds the keys to an account on the chain. The ETH and tokens stay recorded on the network itself; the wallet shows them and signs transfers. A new wallet displays its recovery words once, and those belong on paper, away from the phone. An ETH wallet address starts with 0x followed by forty hexadecimal characters. Several compatible chains use exactly the same format, so a 0x address alone does not reveal which network a transfer will travel on. The network name has to match on both sides.

Litecoin is one of the oldest coins, built on the Bitcoin design with changes that produce blocks about four times as often. On the question of Litecoin vs Bitcoin, Litecoin tends to confirm sooner and to charge lower fees, which is why some casinos accept it for deposits and withdrawals. It runs no smart contracts the way Ethereum does; its job is mainly payments. Its price swings like any unstable coin, so it suits moving value more than keeping it steady. A cashier usually states how many confirmations it waits for.

More questions

What is Litecoin used for?

Litecoin is an older coin built on the Bitcoin design with faster blocks, used mainly for payments rather than smart contracts.

Why does a wallet need ETH to send USDT on Ethereum?

Gas on Ethereum is paid in ETH even when the coin being sent is a token, so a wallet holding only USDT cannot move it.

What decides Ethereum gas fees?

The amount of gas an action uses and the price per unit at that moment, which climbs when the network is crowded.

What does a Litecoin wallet address start with?

Litecoin addresses commonly start with L, M or ltc1, which tells them apart from Bitcoin addresses.