$ETH **Ethereum (ETH)** is the second largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and the foundation of most decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, smart contracts, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Its blockchain allows for the execution of autonomous programs without intermediaries, which has driven its adoption across multiple sectors.

Since its transition to **Proof of Stake (PoS)** with the **Merge** upgrade, Ethereum has reduced its energy consumption by more than 99% and improved the security of the network. Additionally, with the recent **Pectra** update, the functions of validators and the user experience have been optimized.

Currently, Ethereum remains the leader in decentralized application development, although it faces competition from other blockchains such as Solana and Avalanche. Its ecosystem continues to evolve with improvements in scalability and security, reinforcing its position as a key infrastructure for the future of digital finance.