What Is a Wei?
A wei is the smallest unit of the cryptocurrency, Ethereum. It represents the tiniest fraction of an Ether (ETH).
In the Ethereum blockchain, 1 Ether equals one quintillion (10^18) wei.
The wei is named after Wei Dai, a computer scientist and cypherpunk who made significant contributions to the field of cryptography and is known for his involvement in developing early digital currencies.
Deciphering Ethereum Units
When performing transactions or interacting with smart contracts on the Ethereum network, amounts are often denominated in wei.
However, due to the large number of wei in a single Ether, other higher-level units like Gwei (gigawei) and Ether are commonly used for convenience.
Understanding wei and its relationship to other units is essential when working with Ethereum and conducting transactions within the Ethereum ecosystem.