#SaylorBTCPurchase Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum introduced the concept of programmable blockchain, allowing developers to build and deploy applications that run without downtime, fraud, or third-party interference. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is used to power transactions and computational services on the network. Ethereum is also a key player in the decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible token (NFT) ecosystems. It transitioned from a proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism in 2022, significantly reducing its energy consumption.