Ethereum

Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain-based distributed computing platform. It was proposed by Vitalik Buterin in 2013 and released in 2015. While Bitcoin is widely known as a cryptocurrency, Ethereum goes beyond that, allowing the execution of smart contracts and the creation of decentralized applications (DApps).

The main feature of Ethereum is its ability to run smart contracts. Smart contracts are autonomous programs that have the ability to automate and execute digital agreements and transactions without the need for intermediaries. They are written in a programming language called Solidity and run on the Ethereum virtual machine (EVM), which is a fundamental part of the Ethereum network.

In addition to smart contracts, Ethereum also has a native cryptocurrency called Ether (ETH), which is used to pay for transactions and services on the network. Ether can also be traded as a digital asset on various cryptocurrency exchanges.