An introduction to the world’s second largest cryptocurrency

Ether is the unit of cryptocurrency that people are most often referring to when they talk about Ethereum – which is an altogether more involved and intricate digital ecosystem.

Whilst Ether can be seen and used as a digital store of value, at least in as much as Bitcoin can be, the big idea behind Ethereum is that it is a broader blockchain-powered facility intended to de-centralise internet based services.

In concept, these de-centralised Ethereum based systems will have all manner of practical applications and the provision of the services will be paid for in Ether (essentially, Ether is tender by which users can pay for the ‘computational resources’ they use).

Indeed, proponents of this side of Ethereum refer to Ether as ‘digital fuel’.

Whatever about the practical use cases, raw speculation amid the previously soaring cryptocurrency markets was a powerful factor in Ethereum’s rise to become the world’s second largest ‘digital…