$ETH Ethereum ($ETH) is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts—self-executing agreements with the terms written directly into code. Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum introduced programmability to blockchain technology, making it more than just a digital currency. Its native token, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transactions and computational services on the network. Ethereum transitioned from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake in 2022 via “The Merge,” reducing energy usage significantly. It remains the backbone of decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and numerous Web3 applications, playing a central role in the crypto ecosystem.