$ETH (Ether) is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, serving as both a digital currency and the fuel for decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. As the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, ETH powers a vast ecosystem of decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, gaming, and Web3 innovations. It is used to pay for transaction fees (gas), interact with smart contracts, and stake for network security under Ethereum’s proof-of-stake consensus. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum is a programmable blockchain, enabling developers to build and deploy complex applications. $ETH also acts as a store of value and medium of exchange in the crypto economy. With ongoing upgrades like Ethereum 2.0, it continues to evolve toward greater scalability, security, and sustainability.