#ETHBreaks2k Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralised blockchain platform that enables the creation and execution of smart contracts and decentralised applications (dApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik But Erin, Ethereum supports a wide range of use cases, including decentralised finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transaction fees and participate in the network. Ethereum originally used a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, but it has transitioned to Proof of Stake (PoS) with the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade to improve scalability, security, and reduce energy consumption.

Ethereum's flexibility and the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) have made it the foundation for numerous blockchain projects, though it faces challenges such as high transaction fees and scalability issues. Despite this, it remains one of the most important and widely used platforms in the blockchain space.