Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform created by Vitalik Buterin in 2015. It introduced smart contracts, enabling developers to build decentralized applications (DApps) on its blockchain.
Key features include: Smart contract functionality, EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) for executing code, Native currency ETH for transactions and gas, Large developer ecosystem, and Transition to Proof of Stake (The Merge in 2022).
Ethereum use cases include DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, DAOs, Gaming applications, Identity solutions, and Enterprise blockchain solutions.
Ethereum 2.0 improvements include Proof of Stake consensus, Sharding for scalability, Reduced energy consumption, and Layer 2 scaling solutions like rollups.