$ETH Ethereum (ETH) is a leading cryptocurrency and smart contract platform, launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum supports decentralized applications (dApps), DeFi, NFTs, and gaming through smart contracts.

ETH is used for transaction fees (gas), staking, and governance. The Ethereum 2.0 upgrade transitioned it from proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS), improving scalability and energy efficiency. With ongoing upgrades like rollups and sharding, Ethereum remains a key player in blockchain innovation and adoption.