Wei

Wei is the smallest unit of Ether, the cryptocurrency used on the Ethereum blockchain. It represents one quintillionth (1 x 10^-18) of an Ether. This unit is named after Wei Dai, a cryptography pioneer. Using Wei allows Ethereum to handle transactions with very small values, ensuring precision in smart contracts and microtransactions. While Ether is the primary currency used for transactions and investments, Wei is crucial for calculations in the Ethereum network's underlying operations. Understanding Wei is essential for developers and users interacting with Ethereum's blockchain. This precision supports the network's functionality and reliability.