Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation and execution of smart contracts—self-executing agreements with the terms directly written into code. Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and a team of developers, Ethereum goes beyond just being a digital currency. It serves as a foundation for building decentralized applications (dApps), decentralized finance (DeFi) systems, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and more.

The native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network is called Ether (ETH). It is used to pay for transaction fees and computational services on the network. One of Ethereum's key innovations is its support for a Turing-complete programming language, allowing developers to build and deploy complex applications.

In 2022, Ethereum transitioned from a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism to a more energy-efficient proof-of-stake (PoS) system, known as "The Merge." This upgrade significantly reduced Ethereum’s energy consumption and marked a major step in its long-term roadmap for scalability and sustainability.

Ethereum continues to be one of the most influential and widely used platforms in the blockchain space, driving innovation across a wide range of industries.