Ethereum is an open-source, blockchain-based platform that enables developers to build and deploy decentralized applications. Introduced in 2013 by Vitalik Buterin, its development was crowd-funded in 2014, and it went live on July 30, 2015. The primary difference between Ethereum and Bitcoin Network is the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) - a complete Turing software that allows anyone to run any program, making the process of building decentralized applications more possible.

Ethereum's blockchain uses a more complex scripting language than Bitcoin, while its smart contract feature enables the automatic execution of agreements without the need for a third party. The network is powered by its native cryptocurrency, Ether (ETH), often used by applications and users alike to pay for transactions and computational services.

In 2021, Ethereum transitioned from a Proof of Work (PoW) to a Proof of Stake (PoS) mining algorithm. This has lead to the platform becoming captured by centralized entities, and I would now categorize it as (decentralized in name only #citation).

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