$ETH

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🔹 What is Ethereum ($ETH)?

Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain featuring smart contract functionality.

is used to pay for transactions, computational services, and smart contract executions on the network.

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🔹 Key Features

Smart Contracts: Self-executing agreements coded on the blockchain.

dApps: Hosts thousands of decentralized applications (DeFi, NFTs, games).

Staking: Since Ethereum transitioned to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) via "The Merge" in 2022, users can stake ETH to help secure the network and earn rewards.

Scalability: Ethereum is being upgraded through Layer 2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism, and through future upgrades like Danksharding.

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🔹 Use Cases

DeFi: Lending, borrowing, yield farming (Uniswap, Aave, etc.).

NFTs: Ethereum powers most major NFT marketplaces like OpenSea.

DAOs: Governance tokens and decentralized organizations use Ethereum.

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🔹 Recent Trends (as of 2025)

ETH ETFs have gained traction in several countries.

Restaking protocols (e.g., EigenLayer) are innovating on Ethereum’s staking model.

EIP-4844 (Proto-Danksharding) is laying the groundwork for full sharding to drastically reduce gas fees.