$ETH is a decentralized blockchain platform known for enabling smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) without any downtime, fraud, or interference. Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum has become the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization after Bitcoin. Its native currency, Ether (ETH), powers transactions and computational services on the network. With the transition to Ethereum 2.0 and a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, Ethereum has significantly reduced its energy consumption. It plays a central role in the decentralized finance (DeFi) and NFT ecosystems, making it a key pillar of the blockchain and Web3 revolution.