Ethereum is designed to be accessible, meaning that anyone with an internet connection can interact with or build upon the system without requiring authorisation. This is a fundamental feature of Ethereum, encouraging global participation in using, investing, or contributing to the ecosystem regardless of location or background.
Anyone can use Ethereum to send transactions, interact with applications, deploy their own smart contracts, or propose changes to the overall system. The Ethereum community intends for there to be no gatekeepers or central authorities deciding who can or cannot access the network, with the goal being a system that continues to remain permissionless.
Similarly, developers can freely build on Ethereum, using its open infrastructure to create new applications, digital assets, and services. They do not need approval or special credentials to develop on Ethereum. As a result, Ethereum has been full of fast-moving experimentation and change. Unrestricted access has made it into a multi-functional system with a wide range of use cases, from financial services to social and gambling apps.
By having accessibility as a core property in its design, Ethereum has lowered the barriers to entry and encouraged that anyone, anywhere, can take part in platform services and digital assets with as little as a mobile phone and internet connection, and without discrimination.