$ETH

Ethereum (ETH) is a leading blockchain platform launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and others. Unlike Bitcoin, which focuses on digital currency, Ethereum enables smart contracts—self-executing agreements coded directly into the blockchain. Its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transactions and computational services. Ethereum supports a wide range of applications, including DeFi (decentralized finance), NFTs, and DAOs. In 2022, Ethereum transitioned to a more energy-efficient model called Proof of Stake (The Merge), reducing energy consumption by over 99%. ETH is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap and is considered a critical infrastructure for the Web3 ecosystem and decentralized internet future