$ETH

Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others, Ethereum introduced the concept of programmable blockchain, expanding beyond Bitcoin’s simple transfer of value. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transaction fees and computational services. Ethereum transitioned from a Proof-of-Work (PoW) to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism with "The Merge" in 2022, significantly reducing its energy consumption. The network supports innovations like decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Ethereum continues evolving through upgrades like sharding, aiming to improve scalability, security, and sustainability. It remains a foundational pillar of the Web3 ecosystem.