以太坊是什么？｜Web3 入门 · Web3Origin 链上学习学院

以太坊是什么？What is Ethereum?

⏱ 7 分钟7 min

学习目标：学完你能说清以太坊和比特币的关键区别，以及什么是智能合约、它为什么重要。Learning goal: after this lesson you'll be able to explain the key differences between Ethereum and Bitcoin, and what a smart contract is and why it matters.

大白话In plain words如果说比特币是一台只会转账的计算器，以太坊就是一台能装各种应用的智能手机，开发者可以在上面写程序，自动执行合同和规则。If Bitcoin is a calculator that can only transfer money, Ethereum is a smartphone that can run all kinds of apps — developers can write programs on it that automatically execute contracts and rules.

以太坊（Ethereum，简称 ETH）是继比特币之后最重要的公链之一，2015 年上线。它的原生代币叫以太币（ETH），既能用来转账，也用来支付在链上运行程序的手续费。Ethereum (ETH) is one of the most important public chains after Bitcoin, launched in 2015. Its native token is Ether (ETH), which is used both for transfers and to pay the fees for running programs on-chain.

以太坊最大的突破是智能合约（Smart Contract）：一段部署在链上的程序，满足条件就自动执行，谁也改不了、也不用中间人。这让区块链从单纯的转账，升级成能跑各种应用的平台。Ethereum's biggest breakthrough is the smart contract: a program deployed on-chain that executes automatically when conditions are met — no one can alter it and no middleman is needed. This upgraded blockchain from pure transfers into a platform that can run all kinds of applications.

有了智能合约，链上才长出了这些东西：Thanks to smart contracts, these things grew on-chain:

DeFi：去中心化金融，比如链上借贷、兑换；DeFi: decentralized finance, such as on-chain lending and swapping;
NFT：链上的数字凭证或收藏品；NFT: digital certificates or collectibles on-chain;
各种 DApp：跑在区块链上的应用程序。All kinds of DApps: applications running on the blockchain.

另外要知道一个大事件：以太坊在 2022 年完成了从「挖矿（PoW）」到「质押（PoS）」的升级，改用质押 ETH 的方式来维护网络，大幅降低了能耗。但智能合约本身也可能有漏洞或被恶意设计，参与前一定要自己核实（DYOR）。One more big event to know: in 2022 Ethereum completed its upgrade from "mining (PoW)" to "staking (PoS)", switching to staking ETH to maintain the network and dramatically cutting energy use. But smart contracts themselves can still have bugs or be maliciously designed, so always verify on-chain yourself before taking part (DYOR).

案例Example你想和朋友打赌，谁输了自动付钱。用智能合约，可以把规则和资金都锁进一段链上程序里，结果一出来，程序自动把钱转给赢家，不需要谁去催、也没人能耍赖赖账，整个过程链上可查。Say you want to bet with a friend and have the loser pay automatically. With a smart contract, you can lock both the rules and the funds into an on-chain program; once the result comes in, the program automatically sends the money to the winner — no one has to chase payment and no one can weasel out, and the whole process is verifiable on-chain.

配套工具（点开在主站打开）：Related tools (open on the main site):

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❓ 常见问题❓ FAQ

以太坊会取代比特币吗？Will Ethereum replace Bitcoin?

两者定位不同，不是简单的谁取代谁。比特币更像数字黄金、专注价值存储与转账；以太坊是可编程平台，重在承载各种应用。它们更多是并存关系，谁更适合看你的需求。They're positioned differently — it's not a simple case of one replacing the other. Bitcoin is more like digital gold, focused on store of value and transfers; Ethereum is a programmable platform focused on hosting all kinds of applications. They mostly coexist, and which suits you depends on your needs.

智能合约安全吗？Are smart contracts safe?

智能合约一旦部署就自动执行、难以更改，这既是优点也是风险：如果代码有漏洞或被恶意设计，可能造成损失。参与任何链上项目前，务必核实合约是否经过审计并自己研究（DYOR）。Once deployed, a smart contract executes automatically and is hard to change — that's both a strength and a risk: if the code has bugs or is maliciously designed, it can cause losses. Before joining any on-chain project, always check whether the contract has been audited and do your own research (DYOR).

用以太坊做事要花钱吗？Does using Ethereum cost money?

要。在以太坊上转账或调用智能合约，需要支付一笔叫 Gas 的手续费，用 ETH 支付。网络越拥堵，这笔费用越高，具体机制后面的课会讲。Yes. Transferring or calling a smart contract on Ethereum requires paying a fee called Gas, paid in ETH. The more congested the network, the higher this fee — a later lesson covers the details.