Product
What is Ether?
Ether is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, used to pay transaction fees and for staking. The material tracks its role as both a store of value and a necessary asset for the Ethereum network’s security and functionality.
Release history
- Jun 2026 - David Hoffman said that Ether must be a global reserve asset worth trillions of dollars for Ethereum to succeed as a platform.
- Jun 2026 - David Hoffman described Ether as a means to an end of providing censorship-resistant block space, with Ethereum the blockchain being the point.
- Jul 2026 - David Hoffman said that Ethereum is an application-specific chain, and the application is Ether.
- Jul 2026 - Ryan Sean Adams compared price performance, stating that Solana’s price rose about 15% versus 2-3% for Bitcoin and Ether.
In the discourse
Attributed discussion of Ether.
Worth quoting
David Hoffman reframes Ethereum not as a world computer but as an application chain whose sole application is Ether itself.
“Yeah. You're saying that Ethereum is a app chain. It's a application specific chain. The application is Ether.”David Hoffman · 10 Jul 2026
By the numbers
Donald Trump holds at least $100 million in Bitcoin and Ether, per reported disclosures.
“He owns at least $100 million in Bitcoin and Ether.”Ryan Sean Adams · 3 Jul 2026
Worth quoting
David Hoffman on the minimum requirement for Ethereum to succeed as a platform.
“This mental fallacy that Ethereum can be a successful platform without Ether, the asset being worth a f*** ton. And by that I measure f*** tons in the trillions, many, many trillions of dollars. It has to be a global reserve asset.”David Hoffman · 12 Jun 2026
By the numbers
SOL rose approximately 15% in the measured period versus roughly 2% for Bitcoin and 3% for Ether.
“Salana soul price is up like 15% versus the two and 3% of Bitcoin and Ether.”Ryan Sean Adams · 3 Jul 2026
Worth quoting
David Hoffman on the Ethereum asset versus platform relationship.
“When we talk about Ethereum that relationship is inverted where Ethereum the blockchain is the point. Ethereum the block space with crops is the point. But and Ether the asset has been a means to an end of providing World War II resistant block space.”David Hoffman · 12 Jun 2026
Signal Headquarters · reference note, compiled from attributed expert discussion. Last updated 2026-08-17.