Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain that supports smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts where the terms are written directly into the code. It was proposed by Vitalik Buterin in late 2013 and launched in 2015. Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization after Bitcoin. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily serves as a store of value and digital currency, Ethereum’s blockchain is designed to support decentralized applications (dApps) across various industries, including finance, gaming, real estate, and supply chain management. Ethereum’s versatility comes from its ability to host smart contracts, allowing developers to build decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and more. The Ethereum network is undergoing a series of upgrades to improve scalability, including The Merge, and future upgrades like sharding. ETH can be used for payments, transaction fees, staking, and more, making it one of the most important cryptocurrencies in the blockchain ecosystem.