#EthereumFuture
Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and his team. Unlike Bitcoin, it allows developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. In 2016, a major hack of "The DAO" caused a split in the network, creating two chains: Ethereum (ETH) and Ethereum Classic (ETC). During 2017–18, Ethereum's price surged, but it crashed along with the broader crypto market in 2018. In 2021, it reached new all-time highs. A major upgrade called "The Merge" took place in September 2022, transitioning Ethereum from proof-of-work to the more energy-efficient proof-of-stake system. Today, Ethereum remains one of the most influential and widely used blockchain platforms in the world.