In this track: How people use Ethereum
intermediate · 3 MIN READ

Payments with Ethereum

A transfer combines an asset amount with a network and destination.

LET’S PICTURE IT

A digital delivery still needs the correct recipient and route, even when the unit arithmetic is exact.

SEE IT FOR YOURSELF
A transaction moves from Maya’s wallet through signing, node verification, peer sharing, a mempool, block inclusion and finality. Maya’s instructionTOLeo’s public addressAMOUNT0.01 ETHPretend transactionFirst, the wallet prepares a request. Maya’s walletSignature added ✓Private key stays in wallet 🔒Signed request WalletSigned requestNode AChecks ✓Node BChecks ✓Node CChecks ✓Node DChecks ✓NODE C’S LOCAL MEMPOOLVerify.Then share. Pending requestsProposed blockMaya → Leo · 0.01A proposer includes it. Nodes check the result. BlockIncludedCheckpointAgreementFinalizedValidator checkpoint votes support finality.Simplified model · not one vote per transaction
Illustration · no network calls
Prepare
→
Sign
→
Share
→
Include
→
Finalize

Maya prepares an instruction: send 0.01 pretend ETH to Leo.

A local simulation. Nothing is signed or sent to a network.

Name the payment asset

Native ETH and a contract token use different accounting. The intended quantity needs its proper raw-unit scale, and the transaction requires the relevant authorization.

The fee is separate

A native payment amount does not include its execution fee by definition. A token payment can require native ETH for fees. Layer 2 networks can have additional fee components and different settlement stages.

A record is public context

A transaction can expose addresses and action details. It provides a protocol record rather than automatically establishing a real-world invoice, identity or commercial right.

Practice before authorizing

Use the exact unit converter and animated transaction journey without a wallet. For a real payment, review the full destination, asset, chain and requested action in the trusted signing interface.

TURN UNDERSTANDING INTO PRACTICEOpen the Wei / Gwei / ETH →
QUICK CHECK · NO PRESSURE

Does a token payment necessarily use the native value field to name its token amount?

Your progress stays in this browser.
Keep exploring the original referenceethereum.org ↗

Original explanations by EtherTools. Examples are educational and source-linked; this site is independent of the Ethereum Foundation. Our approach.