$ETH Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain system that features its own cryptocurrency, Ether⁽¹⁾. It was first described in a 2013 whitepaper by Vitalik Buterin and launched in 2015⁽¹⁾. Ethereum is known for its smart contracts functionality, which allows developers to create decentralized applications (dApps) on its platform⁽¹⁾.

Here are some key points about Ethereum:

1. *Smart Contracts* : These are self-executing contracts where the terms of the agreement are directly written into code⁽¹⁾. They automatically execute and enforce the terms when specific conditions are met⁽¹⁾.

2. *Decentralized Finance (DeFi)* : Ethereum is a major player in the DeFi space, allowing users to lend, borrow, and trade without traditional financial intermediaries⁽²⁾.

3. *Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)* : Ethereum's blockchain supports NFTs, which are unique digital assets representing ownership of a specific item or piece of content⁽¹⁾.

4. *Ethereum 2.0* : This is an ongoing upgrade to the Ethereum network aimed at improving scalability, security, and sustainability⁽³⁾. The upgrade includes the transition to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism⁽³⁾.

5. *Market Performance* : Ethereum has shown significant growth over the years and continues to be a major player in the cryptocurrency market⁽⁴⁾.

Would you like to know more about any specific aspect of Ethereum?

Sources:

[1] Ethereum price today, ETH to USD live price, marketcap and chart ... (https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/ethereum/)

[2] What is ether (ETH)? - ethereum.org (https://ethereum.org/en/eth/)

[3] Ethereum Price Forecast: ETH recovery imminent with Etherealize launch as Pectra upgrade slated for March 11 (https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/ethereum-price-forecast-eth-recovery-imminent-with-etherealize-launch-as-pectra-upgrade-slated-for-march-11-202501232030)

[4] Ethereum Price Crashes 7.87%, Is This Final ETH Dump before Pump? (https://www.coinspeaker.com/ethereum-price-crashes-7-87-is-this-final-eth-dump-before-pump/)