$ETH

Ethereum (ETH) is more than just a cryptocurrency—it’s a decentralized platform revolutionizing how we interact online. Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, it introduced smart contracts, self-executing agreements that power everything from DeFi to NFTs. Unlike Bitcoin, ETH’s blockchain is a programmable ecosystem, hosting thousands of dApps. Its native token, Ether, fuels transactions and computation. In 2022, Ethereum’s Merge shifted it to proof-of-stake, slashing energy use by ~99.95%, making it greener than ever. ETH’s market cap trails only Bitcoin, with its price often reflecting crypto’s wild volatility. Critics point to scalability woes, but upgrades like sharding aim to fix that. Love it or hate it, Ethereum’s influence on blockchain innovation is undeniable—pushing boundaries and redefining digital trust.