Ethereum (ETH) stands as the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, but its impact extends far beyond digital money. Launched in 2015, Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform renowned for its smart contract functionality. This innovation allows developers to build self-executing applications (dApps) and entire decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems, from lending protocols to NFT marketplaces, without central intermediaries.
$ETH , its native currency, fuels every transaction and smart contract execution as "gas." With recent upgrades like The Merge, Ethereum has transitioned to a Proof-of-Stake consensus, significantly improving energy efficiency. As institutional interest grows and further network enhancements are planned, Ethereum continues to solidify its position as the foundational layer for Web3's decentralized futur
e.
