Ethereum (ETH) is the second largest digital currency after Bitcoin, and is one of the most prominent projects in the blockchain world. It was launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, and is characterized by its ability to execute smart contracts, making it a preferred platform for developing decentralized applications (DApps). Ethereum uses its native currency ETH to pay transaction fees and services on the network. In 2022, the system transitioned to a Proof of Stake mechanism to reduce energy consumption. The Ethereum project features an active community and broad support from developers, and is considered the cornerstone of the decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) worlds.
