
How to buy crypto
Learn how to go from cash to crypto.

Current ETH Price: $2,021.27 | 27 February 2026 | Market cap: $244,027,551,369.00.What is ETH?
Ethereum is a decentralised blockchain network and the world's leading platform for digital smart contracts, conceived in 2013 and launched in 2015. Its native token, ETH (pronounced "Eee-th"), acts like fuel that powers the entire ecosystem.What is a smart contract?
A smart contract is a digital agreement written in computer code that lives on a blockchain like Ethereum. It automatically does something when certain conditions are met. For example: If you send me 1 ETH, the smart contract instantly sends you a digital artwork (NFT). The code follows its programmed rules automatically, 24/7. No human involvement is needed.Ethereum's network is a vast, secure, public ledger that records every transaction. Traditional smart contracts follow their original rules, and can't be changed once executed. Upgradable smart contracts can be updated for new features or bug fixes.What is Ethereum known for?
Ethereum powers the world's largest DeFi economy with <> TVL across 100+ EVM Layer 2 networks (L2s) and thousands of EVM-compatible chains, delivering 100,000+ TPS total capacity. It pioneered smart contracts (2015) and hosts the most active global developer community (60%+ market share).Real-world Ethereum ecosystem performance:- Base layer: ~15 TPS, battle-tested security- L2s: Fast transactions- Ecosystem: Thousands of decentralised applications, $2T+ all-time volume processedRecent & planned upgrades: Pectra (live May 2025), Fusaka (live Dec 2025), Glamsterdam (live by May 2026, with ePBS for MEV resistance), Hegota (live by 2026 with Verkle Trees for state growth).How does DeFi impact the price of ETH?
Decentralised finance apps are one of Ethereum's top use cases today, and allow you to buy, sell, trade, and stake assets like ETH without intermediaries or banks. To start buying, selling, or trading ETH, all you have to do is connect to a leading crypto wallet like MetaMask.DeFi is a global financial system, and an alternative to TradFi that is accessible to anyone with an internet connection, open 24/7 worldwide.| Today (27 February 2026) | $2,021.27 | -2.46% |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours ago (26 February 2026) | $2,072.22 | -2.46% |
| 1 week ago (20 February 2026) | $1,948.06 | +3.76% |
| 1 month ago (28 January 2026) | $3,022.69 | -33.13% |
| 1 year ago (27 February 2025) | $2,347.11 | -13.88% |
Data powered by Brandwatch.
Start swapping
A selection of cryptocurrencies with top market cap.
A selection of cryptocurrencies with similar market cap.
Cryptocurrencies with the biggest price movements in the last 24 hours.
Cryptocurrencies with the largest price gains in the last 7 days.
Cryptocurrencies with the largest price drops in the last 7 days.