$ETH Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, it introduced the concept of programmable blockchain technology. ETH, its native cryptocurrency, is used for transaction fees, staking, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Ethereum transitioned to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism in 2022 with "The Merge," improving energy efficiency and scalability. It supports non-fungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized exchanges (DEXs),