#EthereumFuture Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized blockchain platform that allows the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). It was proposed in 2013 by Vitalik Buterin and launched in 2015. Unlike Bitcoin, which focuses on being a digital currency, Ethereum offers a programmable network where developers can build applications without intermediaries. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transactions and services within the network. In 2022, Ethereum completed 'The Merge,' a transition to a proof-of-stake system, significantly reducing its energy consumption and increasing its efficiency.