Ethereum (ETH): The Leading Smart Contract Platform
Ethereum (ETH) is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, created in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin. It introduced smart contracts, self-executing agreements that revolutionized blockchain technology. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum is more than just a digital currency; it serves as a decentralized platform for building decentralized applications (DApps) and hosting other cryptocurrencies (ERC-20 tokens).
ETH powers transactions on the network, including gas fees required to run smart contracts. Its transition from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) via Ethereum 2.0 has improved scalability, security, and energy efficiency. Ethereum remains the backbone of the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem and NFTs, offering innovation and utility that shape the future of blockchain technology.
