$ETH Ethereum ($ETH): The Smart Contract Pioneer

Ethereum ($ETH) is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and a leading platform for decentralized applications (dApps). Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum introduced smart contracts—self-executing agreements without intermediaries. This innovation laid the foundation for DeFi, NFTs, and countless blockchain projects. Ethereum recently transitioned to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) via the Merge, reducing energy consumption by over 99%. Its scalability upgrades, including sharding and Layer 2 solutions, aim to boost speed and lower fees. As the backbone of Web3, Ethereum continues to evolve, supporting developers, enterprises, and users in building a more decentralized future.