As of February 23, 2025, Ethereum (ETH) is trading at approximately $2,761.80 USD.

Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and a team of co-founders, Ethereum has become the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, following Bitcoin. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily serves as digital money, Ethereum's platform offers a wide range of applications beyond digital currency, including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and more.

In September 2022, Ethereum transitioned from a proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism through an upgrade known as "The Merge." This change significantly reduced Ethereum's energy consumption by approximately 99.9%, enhancing its sustainability.

Recently, Ethereum has faced increased competition from other blockchain platforms like Solana, which offer higher scalability and lower transaction costs. This competition has influenced Ethereum's market position and adoption rates.

Despite these challenges, Ethereum continues to be a foundational platform in the blockchain ecosystem, supporting a vast array of decentralized applications and services.