Ethereum (Ether) is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, launched in 2015 by programmer Vitalik Buterin and a team of co-founders. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily functions as digital money and a store of value, Ethereum is more than just a cryptocurrency; it is a decentralized platform that enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). These smart contracts are self-executing agreements with the terms directly written into code, allowing for trustless and automated transactions without intermediaries.
Ether (ETH) is the native currency of the Ethereum network and is used to power transactions, pay for computational resources, and facilitate operations on the platform. Over the years, Ethereum has become a cornerstone of the blockchain ecosystem, driving the development of innovative projects in finance, gaming, and various sectors, further solidifying its role as a leading blockchain technology.