If you’ve been holding Ethereum for a while, you’ve probably asked the same question as many other crypto owners: What can I do with my Ethereum balance? Of course, it’s nice to watch the numbers go up, and not so nice to watch them come down again, but Ethereum is designed for more than just speculation.
It isn’t just something you buy, hold, and hope it moons someday. As the second-biggest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin, ETH actually has plenty of real uses. But what exactly?
Whether you’re a seasoned crypto investor or someone who just bought their very first ETH last week, here are six very real things you can do with this crypto.
Swap for Other Cryptocurrencies
One of the easiest things you can do with your ETH is to swap it for other coins. Because it’s such a big cryptocurrency, it’s often the go-to medium for exploring the rest of the crypto world.
If you want to own a bit of Bitcoin, for example, or maybe try out other cryptos like Solana, Polygon, or any of the many cryptocurrencies that exist within the Ethereum ecosystem, you can do that easily and with a few clicks on any of the authentic crypto exchanges online.
Here’s a quick tip about swapping: be sure to keep an eye out for fees (a.k.a. gas). You may end up paying more in fees than the value of your trade if the network is busy, so timing matters.
Buy Physical Goods
Yes, you can use your ETH to buy physical goods. In fact, in the past few years, an increasing number of merchants started accepting cryptocurrencies, either directly or through processors like BitPay.
Newegg, an American online retailer of consumer electronics, allows customers to pay for things like laptops and gaming gear with BTC, ETH, DOGE, and many different stablecoins.
On platforms like Bitrefill, you can buy gift cards for Airbnb, Amazon, Uber, and so on, as well as eSims and mobile recharges using cryptocurrencies like ETH, BTC, USDC, and more.
If you want to buy wristwatches, luxury bags, and even cars, some high-end retailers accept crypto, too. Gucci, Balenciaga, Printemps, and Louis Vuitton are just a few of the big-name brands accepting cryptocurrencies like Ethereum.
Buy NFTs and Digital Collectibles
If there’s one thing Ethereum is undisputedly known for, it’s NFTs.
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are assets on the blockchain network that represent ownership of digital collectibles, and even real-world items like artworks, music, and so on. Ownership of NFTs became all the rage a few years ago, with people buying them either for the pleasure of ownership or for investment purposes.
In fact, NFTs have become such a big deal that sales have hit $3.62 billion since the beginning of 2025, with more than 64% of those sales coming from Ethereum transactions.
You too can join the NFT trend and buy with ETH. Whether it’s music, art, or membership passes, simply visit a reputable marketplace like OpenSea and get what you want.
ETH Staking
If you’re not interested in spending your Ethereum just yet, how about putting it to work? Since Ethereum’s move to proof-of-stake in September 2022, staking has become one of the popular uses of ETH.
Staking is basically locking up your Ethereum to help run the network, and in return, you earn interest. This is definitely a better option than letting your crypto sit idle. You can stake directly if you have 32 ETH, or you can work with a reliable Ethereum treasury company that’ll take care of all the technical details for you.
According to Bit Digital, this approach means accumulating and earning ETH at an institutional scale.
Pay for Services
Here’s where Ethereum gets practical for everyday use. Want to hire a freelancer to work on your resume? You can pay with ETH. Planning that much-needed break? You can pay for your travel and hotel with ETH. There’s just so much you can pay for with ETH that would make your life easier.
Even web hosting platforms like Namecheap accept Ethereum as payment for domain and hosting services.
The beauty of using Ethereum to pay for services is that you can now hire talent from any part of the world, even countries where popular payment gateways like PayPal are not accepted, or where bank wire transfer may be a hassle, and simply pay with Ethereum at the end of the project.
Charitable Donations
Lastly, and perhaps one of the most underrated uses of ETH is donating to charity, but this is actually a good way to put your crypto to good use.
And if you think giving with ETH will be difficult, think again. According to The Giving Block’s 2025 annual report, more than $1 billion in cryptocurrency donations were made in 2024 alone. Of course, a good chunk of this will be ETH.
Interestingly, donating to charity can come with tax advantages in some countries, so instead of selling your ETH and possibly paying capital gains tax, you can donate it and make some real-world impact.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve been doing so already, know today that Ethereum is not something to HODL and check on every few weeks. It’s an asset you can use to explore other crypto projects, buy real stuff, and support causes that are dear to your heart.
Of course, what you do with the contents of your wallet depends on your goals, but the beauty of Ethereum is in using it, not just watching the price charts.
