$ETH Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is the second-largest by market capitalization. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum supports smart contracts—self-executing agreements coded on the blockchain—enabling decentralized applications (dApps) for finance, gaming, and NFTs. ETH is used to pay for transaction fees (gas) and secure the network via staking since the 2022 shift to proof-of-stake. Ethereum’s scalability improved with upgrades like sharding. Its open-source ecosystem fosters innovation, hosting thousands of tokens and DeFi protocols. Despite high gas fees historically, Ethereum remains a cornerstone of Web3, valued for its versatility and developer community.