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 the concept of programmable blockchain, allowing for more complex and customizable applications compared to Bitcoin's primary focus on peer-to-peer transactions .
ETH serves as the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, used to pay for transaction fees (gas), participate in staking, and interact with dApps and DeFi protocols . In September 2022, Ethereum transitioned from a proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, significantly reducing its energy consumption and introducing staking rewards for validators .
As of May 11, 2025, ETH is trading at $2,540.96, with an intraday high of $2,587.64 and a low of $2,356.55 .