$ETH Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and a team of developers, Ethereum introduced programmability to blockchain technology, allowing developers to build and deploy self-executing contracts. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is used for transactions, fees, and staking. Ethereum transitioned from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) in 2022 with the Merge, making it more energy-efficient. It continues to evolve with upgrades like sharding to improve scalability. Ethereum remains a leading blockchain for DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 applications, driving innovation in the crypto space.