Ethereum Foundation’s Josh Stark highlights ETH’s ‘hardness’ as it hits 3-year low against Bitcoin Ethereum Foundation’s Josh Stark highlights ETH’s ‘hardness’ as it hits 3-year low against Bitcoin
The blog post by Josh Stark comes amid the pair ETH/BTC hitting its lowest point since April 2021, at 0.03493 BTC.
2 min read
Updated: Nov. 5, 2024 at 9:39 pm UTC
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.
Ethereum Foundation contributor Josh Stark highlighted Ethereum’s (ETH) “hardness” as its defining quality in the digital economy, emphasizing its ability to provide unmatched predictability and immutability for decentralized applications.
Stark argued that these qualities make Ethereum a resilient foundation, setting it apart from other blockchains and traditional institutions. His statement comes amid Ethereum’s price struggles as its value against Bitcoin (BTC) hits its lowest point in 1,285 days.
Understanding ‘hardness’
Stark explained that Ethereum’s “hardness” reflects its ability to make the future more predictable. This quality, he argues, is essential to Ethereum’s position within the digital economy, offering a level of stability and immutability that few other blockchains or institutions can match.
He said:
“We can give Ethereum code and receive a very strong guarantee that it will run any time we call on it.”
This assurance, Stark noted, positions Ethereum as more than just a blockchain but as a new form of “hardness” that challenges traditional sources of stability, like governments and legal systems.
Stark elaborated that Ethereum represents a novel kind of “hardness” that complements and sometimes challenges traditional institutions.
While governments and legal systems have historically provided a framework for property rights, contracts, and economic stability, Ethereum’s decentralized structure offers a global, transparent alternative.
Unlike institutions, which are often bound by borders and bureaucratic processes, Ethereum’s accessibility means that anyone with an internet connection can interact with its network. Stark highlighted this advantage:
“Ethereum’s hardness does not depend on the political winds. Ethereum’s contracts and property rights don’t stop working if your government does. Ethereum’s data won’t be taken away from you by a change to a corporation’s terms of service. When that matters, it matters a lot.”
This borderless accessibility provides a counterweight to traditional systems, which are frequently constrained by regional limitations or vulnerable to political shifts.
Creating a new market
Stark’s post emphasized that Ethereum is not meant to replace traditional institutions but rather to exist alongside them. He envisions a “market for hardness,” where individuals and businesses can choose between decentralized systems and traditional institutions depending on their specific needs.
This choice would allow for more autonomy in creating contracts, storing value, and establishing identity without relying on intermediaries.
Additionally, Stark believes the development of layer-2 blockchains on Ethereum will make this “hardness” more accessible, enabling the network’s decentralized framework to support an even wider range of applications.
Ethereum Market Data
At the time of press 9:39 pm UTC on Nov. 5, 2024, Ethereum is ranked #2 by market cap and the price is up 1.32% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum has a market capitalization of $291.92 billion with a 24-hour trading volume of $19.25 billion. Learn more about Ethereum ›
Crypto Market Summary
At the time of press 9:39 pm UTC on Nov. 5, 2024, the total crypto market is valued at at $2.31 trillion with a 24-hour volume of $94.65 billion. Bitcoin dominance is currently at 59.48%. Learn more about the crypto market ›
Mentioned in this article
Author 
Gino Matos
Gino Matos is a law school graduate and a seasoned journalist with six years of experience in the crypto industry. His expertise primarily focuses on the Brazilian blockchain ecosystem and developments in decentralized finance (DeFi).
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Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps).
Bitcoin
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Bitcoin, a decentralized currency that defies the sway of central banks or administrators, transacts electronically, circumventing intermediaries via a peer-to-peer network.
Solana
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Solana is a high-performance blockchain platform that utilizes a unique consensus algorithm called “Proof of History” to achieve fast transaction speeds and low fees.
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Ethereum Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit organization, is a worldwide team of passionate developers.