区块链入门到实战（17）之以太坊(Ethereum) – 是什么

以太坊(Ethereum)是一个可编程的虚拟币，它是一个基于公共区块链的分布式计算平台，可用于构建基于区块链的分布式应用。

Etheeum is a programmable virtual currency, a distributed computing platform based on the public block chain that can be used to construct distributed applications based on the block chain.

在以太坊(Ethereum)出现之前，各种区块链应用的功能非常有限，例如，比特币和其他加密货币都只是纯粹的数字货币。

Prior to the advent of Etheeum, the various block chains had very limited functionality, for example, Bitcoin and other encrypted currencies were purely digital currencies.

以太坊(Ethereum)创始人Vitalik Buterin将以太坊(Ethereum)设想为开发人员在区块链上编写程序的平台。为了实现此目标，Vitalik Buterin基于区块链技术重新设计了以太坊，除了作为数字货币，以太坊还提供了对数字货币进行编程的能力，即智能合约，开发人员可以利用此能力，开发基于区块链的分布式应用，例如，博彩、游戏等应用。

Vitalik Buterin, founder of Etherum, will use the Etherum as a platform for developers to develop programs on block chains. To achieve this goal, Vitalik Buterin redesigned the Etherium based on block chain technology, which, in addition to being a digital currency, provides the ability to program digital currencies, i.e. smart contracts, which developers can use to develop distributed applications based on block chains, such as lottery, games, etc.

世界上任何人都可以在以太坊(Ethereum)上开发运行分布式应用(DAPP)，这正是以太坊团队把以太坊(Ethereum)称为 世界计算机（World Computer） 的原因。

Anyone in the world can develop an operational distribution application (DAPP) on Etherum, which is why the Etherum team calls Etherum & nbsp; World Computer & nbsp;