Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation and execution of "smart contracts" and decentralized applications (dApps). Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), fuels transactions and computational services on the network. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily focuses on digital currency, Ethereum aims to be a programmable blockchain, a "world computer" that anyone can use to build secure digital technologies. Key features include its smart contract functionality, supporting decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and various other innovative applications, all secured by its robust, transparent, and immutable blockchain.
