$ETH Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that allows developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and a team of developers, Ethereum introduced programmable blockchain technology, expanding beyond Bitcoin's basic payment system. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transactions, computational services, and staking within the network. Ethereum transitioned to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism in 2022 with the merge, significantly reducing energy consumption. The platform powers a vast ecosystem of decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and Web3 innovations, becoming one of the most influential blockchain technologies globally