Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) to be built and run without downtime, fraud, or third-party interference. Its native cryptocurrency is Ether (ETH), used for transaction fees and computational services.
Description: Ethereum was proposed in late 2013 by Vitalik Buterin and launched on July 30, 2015. It is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization after Bitcoin. Ethereum introduced the concept of smart contractsβself-executing contracts with the terms directly written into codeβwhich revolutionized the blockchain space by enabling programmable transactions. The platform supports a wide range of decentralized applications, including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). Ethereum transitioned from proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism in September 2022 (The Merge), significantly reducing energy consumption. It continues to evolve with upgrades like sharding to improve scalability. Ethereum's native token, Ether (ETH), is used to pay for transaction fees (gas) and as a store of value. The Ethereum ecosystem is one of the most active in the blockchain space, with thousands of developers building on it.
Established / Launched: July 30, 2015
Founder / Issuer: Vitalik Buterin, Gavin Wood, Joseph Lubin, and others
