Ethereum ($ETH) is the second-largest cryptocurrency, launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others. Unlike Bitcoin, which mainly serves as digital money, Ethereum is a decentralized platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Its blockchain allows developers to build various applications, including DeFi (Decentralized Finance), NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations). Ethereum transitioned to a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism through "The Merge" in 2022, making it more energy-efficient. With no fixed supply limit, Ethereum’s value depends on network usage, innovation, and adoption. It plays a central role in the growing Web3 ecosystem and the future of decentralized technologies.