What Is Ethereum?
Ethereum is more than just a cryptocurrency — it’s a global computer network that allows anyone to build and run programs on a blockchain.
Launched in 2015 by developer Vitalik Buterin and a group of early crypto pioneers, Ethereum introduced the world to smart contracts — self-executing digital agreements that don’t need banks, brokers, or middlemen.
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How It Works
ETH (Ether): The native currency of Ethereum, used to pay for transactions and computational power on the network.
Smart Contracts: Pieces of code that automatically carry out rules — like payments, loans, or trades — once certain conditions are met.
Decentralized Apps (dApps): Apps built on Ethereum that anyone can use, covering everything from finance and gaming to NFTs and social media.
In simple terms, Ethereum lets people build an internet of value, where money and logic work together seamlessly.
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Upgrades and Energy Efficiency
Originally, Ethereum used the same mining system as Bitcoin.
But in 2022, the network completed a major upgrade called The Merge, switching to a Proof-of-Stake model.
This reduced its energy usage by more than 99% and made it one of the greenest blockchains in existence.
Developers continue to improve Ethereum with scaling upgrades that make it faster and cheaper to use — a big step toward mass adoption.
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Why It Matters
Ethereum is the foundation of the entire DeFi (Decentralized Finance) and NFT (Non-Fungible Token) movements.
Thousands of other blockchains and tokens — including stablecoins and Layer-2 networks like Polygon and Arbitrum — are built on or connected to it.
From art and music royalties to gaming economies and complex financial tools, Ethereum powers the creative and economic side of crypto.
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In a Nutshell
> Ethereum is the world’s programmable blockchain — a place where money moves automatically, apps run without middlemen, and innovation never stops.
If Bitcoin is digital gold, Ethereum is digital infrastructure.
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