$ETH ETH, short for Ether, is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain. It's the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, following Bitcoin. However, it's important to understand that Ethereum is more than just a digital currency; it's a decentralized platform that enables the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps).

Here are some key aspects of ETH and the Ethereum network:

* Smart Contracts: Ethereum's primary innovation is its ability to execute smart contracts. These are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. They automatically enforce the rules of the agreement without the need for intermediaries. This functionality has paved the way for a wide range of applications, from decentralized finance (DeFi) to non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

* Decentralized Applications (dApps): The Ethereum platform allows developers to build and deploy decentralized applications. These applications run on the blockchain network, meaning they are not controlled by a single entity, offering greater transparency and censorship resistance. Examples include decentralized exchanges (DEXs), lending platforms, and blockchain-based games.

* Proof-of-Stake (PoS): Ethereum transitioned from a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) with "The Merge" in September 2022. In PoS, validators "stake" their ETH to participate in the network's operation, verifying transactions and creating new blocks. This is generally considered more energy-efficient than PoW.

* Utility: ETH is used to pay for transaction fees (known as "gas") on the Ethereum network. These fees incentivize miners (now validators) to process transactions and secure the network. It's also used as collateral in various DeFi protocols and as a medium of exchange within the Ethereum ecosystem.

* Price Volatility: Like most cryptocurrencies, the price of ETH can be highly volatile and is influenced by various factors such as market sentiment, adoption rates, regulatory developments, and technological advancemen .