$ETH

Ethereum ($ETH): A Pillar of the Blockchain Ecosystem

Ethereum, represented by the ticker $ETH, is a decentralized blockchain platform that revolutionized the crypto world by introducing smart contracts—self-executing code that runs on the blockchain. Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum goes beyond simple peer-to-peer payments, allowing developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) across industries like finance, gaming, and art.

Ethereum’s native token, Ether ($ETH), is used to pay for transaction fees and computational services on the network. It's also a major digital asset traded globally, second only to Bitcoin in market capitalization.

A major milestone in Ethereum’s evolution was "The Merge" in 2022, which transitioned the network from proof-of-work (PoW) to the more energy-efficient proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. This shift significantly reduced Ethereum’s energy consumption and paved the way for further scalability upgrades.

With ongoing developments like sharding and Layer 2 solutions, Ethereum aims to enhance speed and reduce costs, cementing its role as a foundational layer for Web3 innovation.