Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain network launched in 2015, designed to support smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). It uses its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), to facilitate transactions and power the network. Ethereum has played a central role in the growth of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and its transition to proof-of-stake in 2022 aimed to improve scalability and energy efficiency.