$ETH

*ETH (Ethereum)*

Ethereum (ETH) is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and a cornerstone of the blockchain ecosystem. Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum introduced smart contracts—self-executing agreements with predefined conditions—revolutionizing decentralized applications (DApps). Unlike Bitcoin, which is primarily a digital currency, Ethereum serves as a decentralized platform powering NFTs, DeFi, and DAOs. With its shift to Ethereum 2.0 through the Merge, it transitioned to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, significantly reducing energy consumption. ETH is not just a token but also gas that fuels transactions on the network. Its versatility and innovation continue to drive adoption and development globally.