$ETH Ethereum ($ETH) is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum introduced a more flexible scripting language than Bitcoin, allowing for complex, programmable financial and business agreements. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transactions and computational services on the network. Ethereum transitioned to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism in 2022 with the Merge, significantly reducing energy consumption. As a foundational technology in DeFi, NFTs, and Web3, Ethereum continues to be a driving force in blockchain innovation.