$ETH is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, the world’s leading programmable smart contract platform. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily serves as digital gold, $ETH fuels a vast ecosystem of decentralized applications (dApps), DeFi protocols, NFTs, and Web3 services.

Key Uses of $ETH:

Transaction Fees (Gas): Paid to process and validate transactions and smart contracts.

Staking: Secures the Ethereum network via Proof-of-Stake (PoS), allowing stakers to earn rewards.

Collateral: Widely used in DeFi for loans, liquidity provision, and derivatives.

Payments & Settlements: Accepted by businesses and platforms for direct payments and cross-border transfers.

Why It Matters: it is more than just a currency—it's the backbone of a decentralized internet economy. As Ethereum continues to scale through upgrades like rollups and sharding, the role of it becomes even more crucial in supporting a global, trustless digital infrastructure.