$ETH

Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized blockchain platform best known for its smart contract functionality. Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and a team of developers, Ethereum expands the use of blockchain technology beyond simple peer-to-peer transactions, allowing developers to create decentralized applications (dApps) that run exactly as programmed without downtime, fraud, or interference.

ETH, the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, is used to pay for transactions, computational services, and network participation. It is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, after Bitcoin. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily serves as a store of value or digital money, Ethereum’s primary goal is to become a global, decentralized platform for applications that rely on blockchain-based smart contracts.

Ethereum has undergone major upgrades to improve scalability, security, and energy efficiency, most notably the shift from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS) through "The Merge" in 2022. This transition reduced the network’s energy consumption by over 99%, addressing major environmental concerns.

Ethereum’s flexibility has made it a foundation for innovations such as decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and even decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). As blockchain technology continues to grow, Ethereum remains at the forefront of shaping the future of the decentralized internet.

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