Ethena USDe (USDE) vs Ethereum (ETH)

Ethena Labs is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol on Ethereum whose main product is USDe, a synthetic stablecoin backed by the US dollar. It aims to be a sort of "Internet bond" with a specific collateral mechanism secured by the cryptocurrencies stETH, WBETH, mETH, WETH, and USDT. Specifically, when a user deposits any of these cryptocurrencies, the protocol opens an equivalent "short" position to hedge against potential declines.

Ethereum is the pioneer in the field of distributed and programmable blockchains. Launched in 2015, this project forever revolutionized the world of cryptocurrencies by introducing the concept of smart contracts, a computer protocol that allows for the programming of complex operations on a blockchain. These have enabled the creation of decentralized applications that have led to the emergence of new sectors including NFTs, DeFi, DAOs, Web3, and many others. Initially designed on a Proof of Work mechanism, Ethereum underwent a major change in 2022 by migrating to a Proof of Stake consensus. At the heart of this ecosystem, ETH is the native cryptocurrency and is used to pay transaction fees, reward validators, and contribute to the governance of the project.