$ETH Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap ($451.99B), powers a decentralized blockchain platform for smart contracts and dApps. Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, it transitioned to proof-of-stake in 2022, reducing energy use by 99%. As of May 2025, ETH trades at $3,762.59, up 29.61% in a week, driven by DeFi and NFT growth. The Pectra upgrade and L2 solutions like Arbitrum enhance scalability, though Solana challenges its dominance. ETH ETFs and institutional adoption fuel optimism, but centralization risks and gas fee spikes persist. Analysts predict ETH may hit $6,000 by year-end.