$ETH

Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum operates on its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), which is used to pay for transaction fees and computational services on the network. Unlike Bitcoin, which is primarily a store of value, Ethereum’s focus is on enabling programmable contracts and decentralized systems. Ethereum’s smart contracts automatically execute code when predefined conditions are met, eliminating the need for intermediaries. Ethereum has undergone significant upgrades, transitioning from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake (Ethereum 2.0) to improve scalability and energy efficiency. Ethereum remains a foundational blockchain platform in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.