$ETH Ethereum ($ETH) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum introduced programmability to blockchain technology via its native language, Solidity. ETH, the platform’s native cryptocurrency, is used to pay for transaction fees and computational services on the network. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum supports more complex use cases such as decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and DAOs. It transitioned to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism in 2022 with the Merge, significantly reducing its energy consumption. Ethereum continues evolving through scalability upgrades like sharding and layer 2 solutions.