$ETH

Ethereum is a decentralized open-source blockchain system featuring its own cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH). It's a platform for numerous other cryptocurrencies and the execution of decentralized smart contracts. Here's a brief overview¹ ²:

- *Current Price*: $1,805.87, with a 2.28% increase in the last 24 hours

- *Market Capitalization*: $217.95 billion, ranking #2 among cryptocurrencies

- *Trading Volume*: $16.64 billion in the last 24 hours

# Key Features

- *Smart Contracts*: Ethereum allows developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) using smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement written directly into lines of code.

- *Decentralized Finance (DeFi)*: Ethereum-based DeFi applications provide financial instruments that don't rely on traditional financial intermediaries like brokerages, exchanges, or banks.

- *Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)*: Ethereum enables users to create and exchange NFTs, which are unique digital assets tied to specific items, such as art or collectibles.

# History and Development

- *Founded*: Ethereum was conceived in 2013 by Vitalik Buterin and launched on July 30, 2015

- *The Merge*: In September 2022, Ethereum transitioned from proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS), reducing energy consumption by 99%³ provides current market data, showing Ethereum's price at $1,796.99 with a 1.79% increase. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking reliable cryptocurrency sources like CoinMarketCap or Finnhub.