#ehtereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that allows developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Created by Vitalik Buterin and launched in 2015, Ethereum's blockchain supports its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH). Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily serves as a digital currency, Ethereum is designed to be a versatile platform for creating and running applications without intermediaries.
Key features of Ethereum include:
1. **Smart Contracts**: Self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code, allowing automated and trustless transactions.
2. **Decentralized Applications (dApps)**: Applications that run on a peer-to-peer network, eliminating reliance on a central authority.
3. **Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)**: The runtime environment for executing smart contracts, providing a standardized and secure execution layer.
Ethereum has undergone significant upgrades, including the transition to Ethereum 2.0, which aims to improve scalability, security, and energy efficiency by shifting from a proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus .
