$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 a team of co-founders, Ethereum has become the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, following Bitcoin. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transaction fees and computational services on the network. Ethereum utilizes a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, enhancing security and energy efficiency following the successful transition from proof-of-work in 2022. The platform's versatility has led to the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), significantly expanding its use cases. As Ethereum continues to evolve, it remains at the forefront of blockchain innovation and adoption.