$ETH ETH, or Ethereum, is a cryptocurrency and decentralized platform launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum allows the execution of smart contracts, autonomous programs on the blockchain. ETH is the native currency used to pay transaction fees (gas) and power decentralized applications (dApps). Its blockchain is secured by a network of nodes and, since 2022, uses the proof-of-stake mechanism to reduce its energy footprint. ETH is the second cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalization, with various applications such as DeFi and NFTs.