$ETH Ethereum ($ETH) is a decentralized blockchain platform renowned for its smart contract functionality, enabling programmable agreements without intermediaries. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether, fuels transactions and decentralized applications (dApps). As the second-largest crypto by market cap, Ethereum pioneered decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and Web3 innovations. In 2022, it transitioned to Ethereum 2.0, shifting from energy-intensive Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS), slashing energy use by ~99.95%. Upgrades like sharding aim to boost scalability and reduce fees. ETH remains a cornerstone of blockchain innovation, driven by a robust developer community and widespread adoption in decentralized ecosystems.