$ETH Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain that supports smart contracts. It was proposed by Vitalik Buterin in 2013 and launched in 2015. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum enables developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) using its robust scripting language. Ether (ETH) is the native cryptocurrency, used to pay for transaction fees and computational services. Ethereum transitioned to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism with the Merge in 2022, significantly reducing energy consumption. It plays a central role in DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 innovations. With a large developer community and continuous upgrades, Ethereum remains a cornerstone of the blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem.