$ETH Ethereum is considered one of the most important blockchain platforms and cryptocurrencies in the world since its launch in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily focuses on being a digital currency, Ethereum introduced the concept of smart contracts, opening the door for decentralized applications (dApps) across various sectors.

Ethereum has undergone several major development phases, most notably:

The Transition to Proof of Stake (The Merge):

In September 2022, the network completed "The Merge," transitioning from a Proof of Work (PoW) to a Proof of Stake (PoS) system, reducing its energy consumption by over 99%. This made the network more environmentally friendly and increased its appeal to major institutions.

Expansion and Upgrades (Shanghai Upgrade and Others):

Ethereum has introduced technical improvements aimed at reducing transaction costs and increasing network speed, through innovations such as sharding and the development of Layer 2 solutions.

Institutional and Financial Interest:

With the advancement of its infrastructure, Ethereum has attracted significant institutional investment and is increasingly being used as a foundation for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Challenges and Competition:

Despite its progress, Ethereum faces strong competition from other platforms like Solana, Avalanche, and Polygon, which offer faster transaction speeds and lower costs. This ongoing competition drives Ethereum to continue innovating.

Overall, Ethereum continues to play a major role in shaping the future of blockchain and Web 3.0, supported by an active developer community and an ambitious roadmap for expanding its technical and economic capabilities.