$ETH

Ethereum (ETH) is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, following Bitcoin. Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum introduced the concept of a programmable blockchain, enabling developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily serves as digital gold, Ethereum’s blockchain supports a wide range of use cases, including DeFi (Decentralized Finance), NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations).

Ethereum’s native token, ETH, is used to pay for transactions and computational services on the network. In September 2022, Ethereum underwent a major upgrade known as “The Merge,” transitioning from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS), drastically reducing its energy consumption and setting the stage for future scalability improvements.

The ETH market is known for its high volatility, influenced by broader crypto trends, tech upgrades, regulatory news, and adoption rates. Prices have ranged from under $1 in 2015 to over $4,000 in 2021. As of 2025, Ethereum remains a central hub in the crypto ecosystem, with ongoing developments like sharding and Layer 2 scaling solutions aimed at increasing efficiency.

Despite competition from other smart contract platforms, Ethereum continues to dominate the dApp and DeFi landscapes.