# Ethereum

<figure><img src="/files/f1MGDiS0JvWHOUxL5PlK" alt="Ethereum Logo"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Introduction

The [**Ethereum network**](https://ethereum.org/en/) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation and deployment of **smart contracts** and **decentralized applications (dApps)**. It was launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and a group of developers as a more versatile alternative to Bitcoin, introducing programmability through its **Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)**.

#### Key Features of Ethereum:

1. **Smart Contracts**:
   * Self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. These enable automation and trustless transactions without intermediaries.
2. **Decentralized Applications (dApps)**:
   * Developers can build and deploy a wide range of applications, such as decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and gaming platforms.
3. **Ether (ETH)**:
   * The native cryptocurrency of Ethereum, used to pay transaction fees (gas) and as a medium of exchange within the ecosystem.
4. **Proof of Stake (PoS)**:
   * Ethereum transitioned from Proof of Work (PoW) to PoS with the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade, improving energy efficiency and scalability.
5. **Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)**:
   * A decentralized computation engine that allows developers to deploy and execute smart contracts in a standardized environment.
6. **Layer 2 Scaling**:
   * Solutions like Optimistic Rollups and zk-Rollups are built on Ethereum to improve scalability and reduce transaction costs.
7. **Interoperability**:
   * Ethereum is widely integrated with other blockchains and applications, serving as a foundation for a vast ecosystem of dApps and protocols.
8. **Security and Decentralization**:
   * Ethereum's blockchain is maintained by thousands of nodes worldwide, ensuring security and resistance to censorship.

Ethereum has become the backbone of the Web3 ecosystem, driving innovation in areas like finance, gaming, identity, and governance, while evolving to address scalability and environmental concerns.

> Forbole is also one of the [Ethereum Validators](https://forbole.com/en/staking).

## How to Interact

1. Get your API Key from [Forbole's RPC](https://rpc.forbole.com/).

<figure><img src="/files/PSGkNXQdncEE6GQrxK9N" alt="DevTools Endpoints"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

1. Test the query as follow:

```bash
curl https://rpc-mainnet-ethereum-fullnode.forbole.com \
  -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "apikey: {apiKey}" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"eth_blockNumber"}'
```

**Response Example**

```json
{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": 1,
    "result": "0x1456fc2"
}
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.rpc.forbole.com/rpc-api-documentation/guide-to-rpc/endpoints/rpc/ethereum.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.