$ETH Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation and execution of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). It was proposed by Vitalik Buterin in 2013 and went live in 2015, positioning itself as a more flexible alternative to Bitcoin by allowing developers to build applications beyond simple transactions.

The key feature of Ethereum is its ability to support "smart contracts," which are self-executing contracts with predefined rules and conditions written into code. This removes the need for intermediaries, enabling trustless and transparent transactions. Ethereum also facilitates the creation of dApps, which can run on its blockchain without downtime, fraud, or interference from a third party.

Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of Ethereum, is used to pay for transactions, computational services, and other activities on the network. Ethereum has been a significant player in the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are built on its blockchain.

Ethereum has undergone significant upgrades over time, including its transition to Ethereum 2.0, which aims to improve scalability, security, and sustainability by switching from a proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. This transition is expected to reduce energy consumption and increase transaction throughput.