$ETH Ethereum (ETH) is the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin, but it’s much more than just digital money. Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum is a decentralized smart contract platform. This means developers can build decentralized applications (dApps), DeFi platforms, NFTs, and more directly on its blockchain. Unlike Bitcoin, which mainly focuses on peer-to-peer payments, Ethereum allows programmable agreements that execute automatically when conditions are met. With the transition to Proof of Stake (PoS) through Ethereum 2.0, ETH now offers faster transactions, lower energy use, and better scalability. Many believe Ethereum will continue to drive innovation in Web3 and blockchain technology.