What Is ERC-20?

ERC-20 is the technical standard for fungible tokens created using the Ethereum blockchain. A fungible token is one that is exchangeable with another token, whereas the well-known ERC-721 non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are not.

ERC-20 allows developers to create smart-contract-enabled tokens that can be used with other products and services. These tokens are a representation of an asset, right, ownership, access, cryptocurrency, or anything else that is not unique in and of itself but can be transferred.

History of ERC-20

Smart contracts were becoming more popular in 2015, but several issues needed to be addressed. One of the most pressing was that anyone could make a token, but they were not always interoperable with other tokens. Without a standardized token methodology, there wasn't a way to ensure that all the different tokens could be created, used, or exchanged by everyone using the blockchain.

How the Standard Started

ERC-20 was proposed by developer Fabian Vogelsteller in 2015 to address the need for a standard within smart contracts on the Ethereum 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:blockchain. Vogelsteller submitted the proposal via the project's Github page as 𒁃an Ethereum Request for Comment (ERC). As it was the twentieth comment, it was assigned the designation ERC-20.

Following the procedure used by the Ethereum developer community at the time, the proposal was approved and implemented in 2017 as Ethereum Improvement Proposal 20 (EIP-20). However, it is still called ERC-20 because that's how it was known until it was approved.

Because the request was approved and implemented, smart contract tokens implemented on the Ethereum blockchain must conform to this standard if the developers want ♐them to be interchangeable and advertise that their token is ERC-20 compliant.

ERC-20 Contents

ERC-20 is a list of functions and events that must be implemented into a token to be considered ERC-20 compliant. These functions (called methods in the ERC) describe what must be included in the smart-contract-enabled token, while events describe an action. The functions a token must have are:

• TotalSupply: The total number of tokens that will ever be issued
• BalanceOf: The account balance of a token owner's account
• Transfer: Automatically executes transfers of a specified number of tokens to a specified address for transactions using the token
• TransferFrom: Automatically executes transfers of a specified number of tokens from a specified address using the token
• Approve: Allows a spender to withdraw a set number of tokens from a specified account, up to a specific amount
• Allowance: Returns a set number of tokens from a spender to the owner
  

The events tℱhat must be included in the token are:

• Transfer: An event triggered when a transfer is successful
• Approval: A log of an approved event (an event)

The following functions are optional and are not required, but they enhance the token's usability:

• Token's name (optional)
• Its symbol (optional)
• Decimal points to use (optional)

So, what does this all mean? The functions and events are programming language, such as:

function name () public view returns (string)

function balanceOf (address _owner) public view returns (uint256 balance)

These functions provide a common structure for tokens so that they can be easily accessed, recognized, reviewed, and used. This reduces the confusion users and application developers would have if every smart contract's token had different information contained within it. Additionally, the code functions assist in determining the number of tokens in circulation, storing and returning balances, making transfer and withdrawal requests, granting approval, and agreeing to automated transfers.

𒁏 Plenty of well-known digital currencies use the ERC-20 standard. Some popular examples are:

• Tether USD (USDT)
• USD Coin (USDC)
• 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Shiba Inu (SHIB)
• Binance USD (BUSD)
• BNB (BNB)
• DAI Stablecoin (DAI)
• 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:HEX (HEX)
• Bitfinex LEO (LEO)
• Maker (MKR)

Goals of ERC-20

ꦰ The ERC-20 standard has a vital role within the blockchain; it defines a standard list of rules that Ethereum tokens using smart contracts must adhere to. Some of these rules include how the tokens can be transferred, how transactions are approved, how users can access data about a token, a൩nd the total supply of tokens.

Consequently, this token standard empowers developers of all types to accurately predict how new tokens will function within the larger Ethereum system. This simplifies the task for developers; they can proceed with their work, knowing that every existing project won't need to be redone every time a new token is released. Additionally, new projects won't need to worry about compatibility with old projects as long as the token follows the rules.

Fortunately, most token developers have fallen in line with ERC-20 🔥rules, meaning that most tokens released through Ethereu🌊m are ERC-20 compliant.

BEP-2 vs. ERC-20

ERC-20 is the standard for tokens in the Ethereum ecosystem. Many other tokens, blockchains, and ecosystems have derived from Ethereum. One such ecosystem and blockchain belongs to Binance, the cryptocurrency exchange. The team behind Bin꧂ance created its own blockchain, the Binance Chain, from an Ethereum fork.

Binance developers then created a standa𝓡rd for tokens on their blockchain. This standard is called BEP-2 and is similar to ERC-20 in that it guides token creation for use on the Binance Chain.

Binance also has created a side chain that runs alongside the Binance Chain called the Binance Smart Chain. This chain is compatible with ERC-20 tokens, the Ethereum Virtual Machine, and the Binance Chain; however, it uses a newer standard called BEP-20, which creates cross-chain compatibility.

How Will I Use This in Real Life?

If you ever trade on a crypto exchange, there's a good chance that you will encounter an Ethereum-based token. The Ethereum network is the second-biggest blockchain after bitcoin, and it is home to thousands of ERC-20 tokens.

Outside of crypto exchanges, ERC-20 tokens are often used to represent other assets, like in-game currencies, financial assets, or real estate. In addition, some crypto companies, like Circle, use the ERC-20 standard to issue dollar-valued tokens.

Explain Like I'm Five

ERC-20 is a format that allows developers to create their own tokens on the Ethereum network. Using computer code, the developers can set the maximum supply of their tokeꦰns and set rules for how they are issued and traded. These tokens can represent items of value, such as gold, stocks, or property, and they can be exchanged with other users on the Ethereum network.

The Bottom Line

To address growing concerns that multiple tokens woul😼d not be transferrable on the Ethereum blockchain, a proposal for standards was made and implemented in 2015. Called Ethereum Request for Comment (ERC) 20, the standard guides token creation so that t🎐okens compatible with the Ethereum blockchain are interchangeable.

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