There is a lot of attention lately talking about Bitcoin gaining over 700% in 2017, posting a record high last week of over $6000 USD, but I wanted to shed some light on the second biggest cryptocurrency in the world that has a market cap of over $30 Billion; let me introduce you to Ethereum.

Ethereum is a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts: applications that run exactly as programmed without any possibility of downtime, censorship, fraud, or third-party interference. Ethereum is a programmable blockchain that boasts an impressive global infrastructure that has the ability to move value around the world nearly instantly.

The capabilities behind Ethereum are impressive but I don’t want to bore you with tech jargon that will put you to sleep. Instead, I want you to see that Ethereum is a force to be reckoned with that is opening up opportunities for entrepreneurs and developers all over the world to build amazing applications.

Think of Ethereum as the new Apple App Store for the decentralized transparent future business environment. When you think of it this way, it shows that Ethereum is a beast and a platform that will last for many years providing an ecosystem for the birth of the Amazons and Facebooks of the next generation.

Ethereum is developed by a non-profit out of Switzerland called the Ethereum Foundation. One of the most impactful players in the Ethereum space, which is arguably doing the most to drive adoption of the platform worldwide, is ConsenSys, a venture production studio that builds decentralized applications primarily focused on Ethereum.

Ethereum and ConsenSys Come Together

Founded nearly three years ago by Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York with offices that include Toronto, Dubai, and San Francisco, ConsenSys has put together a rockstar team of over 400 employees around the world, including CMO Amanda Gutterman who is one of the masterminds behind the Ethereal Summit.

The Ethereal event series brings together the top innovators across the blockchain ecosystem for a day of speakers, panels, interactive workshops, and art experiences and now it arrives in San Francisco for Ethereal SF, a one-day event at Terra Gallery in SOMA that will highlight the innovators and technologies that are ushering in the next generation of the internet and catalyzing our transition to a decentralized world.

To give you a little insight into the types of speakers and panelists that will be at the event, I’ve decided to highlight three below.

Peter Diamandis

Singularity University, XPrize, Human Longevity, Planetary Resources

Olaf Carlson-Wee

Founder & CEO, Polychain Capital

Joseph Lubin

Co-Founder of Ethereum, Founder of ConsenSys

Silicon Valley Welcomes ConsenSys

ConsenSys has been growing like crazy lately and recently opened its office in San Francisco. With Ethereal also being held in the city, ConsenSys and Ethereum will now have a serious footprint in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

While Ethereal SF brings together top innovators and forward thinkers within the blockchain ecosystem, don’t be mistaken: anyone can attend. Blockchain as a whole and cryptocurrencies are still in a very early stage, and the event provides a great opportunity for both industry tycoons and new people who want to learn more about the industry. To learn more about Ethereal visit EtherealSummit.com.