Currently live as part of the Gasper consensus mechanism, Casper FFG acts as an overlay that provides .
For architects and developers, Ethereum represents more than just a cryptocurrency platform; it is a programmable, decentralized infrastructure designed for secure, distributed computing. Understanding this ecosystem requires a shift from traditional centralized paradigms to a model where consensus and finality—specifically through the protocol—dictate the reliability and performance of applications. Core Architectural Foundations
: Establishes agreement on the canonical chain.
: Interprets and executes data via the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) .
The transition to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) introduced the Casper protocol , which is critical for architects to understand because it fundamentally changes how and when a transaction is considered "settled". 1. Casper FFG (Friendly Finality Gadget)