Ethereum (ETH) is the second largest digital currency by market capitalization, and it is the native currency of the Ethereum network, a decentralized platform that allows for the creation and operation of decentralized applications and smart contracts.

Ethereum is used to pay transaction fees on the network, known as "gas." It also plays a vital role in operating decentralized applications, incentivizing developers and network participants.

Since its launch in 2015, Ethereum has experienced tremendous growth and has become a cornerstone in the world of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). It continues to evolve with upgrades aimed at improving its scalability and efficiency.