Ethereum and Smart Contracts: Ethereum, launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, is more than just a cryptocurrency; it's a decentralized platform that enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts. These self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code eliminate the need for intermediaries, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. Ether (ETH), Ethereum's native token, fuels these transactions. The platform has spawned a vast ecosystem of decentralized applications (dApps), making it a cornerstone of the burgeoning decentralized finance (DeFi) movement.
