#Ethereum $ETH is a decentralized blockchain platform launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin. It enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts—self-executing programs without the need for intermediaries. ETH, the native$ cryptocurrency, powers transactions and secures the network through staking in its proof-of-stake (PoS) system, introduced with the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade. Beyond simple payments, Ethereum supports decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), gaming, and countless dApps (decentralized applications). It’s known for its flexibility, strong developer community, and constant innovation, such as the transition to PoS to reduce energy consumption. Despite high gas fees and scalability issues, ongoing upgrades like "sharding" aim to improve performance. Ethereum remains a key driver of Web3 and blockchain adoption worldwide.