What is Ethereum (ETH)

1. Project Introduction
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source public blockchain platform with smart contract functionality. Its native cryptocurrency is Ether (ETH). Inspired by Bitcoin, programmer Vitalik Buterin first introduced the concept of Ethereum between 2013 and 2014, describing it as a “next-generation cryptocurrency and decentralized application platform.” Development began following a successful ICO in 2014. The Ethereum network went live on June 30, 2015.
Ethereum played a pivotal role in the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi), allowing users to lend, borrow, or earn interest on crypto assets without relying on traditional intermediaries such as brokers, exchanges, or banks. It also hosts the largest and most active developer ecosystem in Web3.
On September 15, 2022, Ethereum completed "The Merge"—a major upgrade transitioning from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS), reducing its energy consumption by 99%. On July 23, 2024, the U.S. SEC officially approved S-1 filings from nine issuers, paving the way for spot Ethereum ETFs to be listed for public trading.
Summary: Launched in 2015, Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap after Bitcoin. Its creators aimed to build a global, decentralized computing platform that leverages blockchain’s security and openness, extending these properties to a wide range of applications.
2. Team & Investment Info
Team: Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, is a Russian-Canadian programmer and writer. After graduating high school, he enrolled at the University of Waterloo, where he worked as a research assistant to cryptographer Ian Goldberg. In 2013, Buterin published the Ethereum whitepaper and later dropped out of university after receiving a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship to pursue Ethereum full-time. In 2018, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Basel’s Faculty of Business and Economics.
3. Social Media URLs
X: https://x.com/ethereum
Discord: https://discord.gg/ethereum-org
4. Token Info
Token Symbol: ETH
Token Type: Native coin on the Ethereum mainnet
Total Supply: ∞
Issuance/Burn Mechanism: Features both issuance and burn mechanisms
Contract Address: https://etherscan.io/
5. Related Links
Official Website: https://ethereum.org/en/
White Paper: https://ethereum.org/en/whitepaper/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethereum/
GitHub: https://github.com/ethereum/ethereum-org-website
Other Info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethereum；https://www.rootdata.com/Projects/detail/Ethereum?k=MTI%3D