$ETH Ethereum ($ETH) is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others. Unlike Bitcoin, which is mainly a digital currency, Ethereum is a decentralized platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Its native token, ETH, powers transactions and pays for computational services on the network. Ethereum transitioned to proof-of-stake in 2022 via "The Merge," reducing its energy usage by over 99%. It's widely used in DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 projects. ETH is considered a foundational asset in the crypto ecosystem, often referred to as "digital oil" due to its utility.