Launched in 2015, Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform most commonly known by its cryptocurrency, ether (ETH). It was invented by Vitalik Buterin. Ethereum from the outside seems somewhat similar to Bitcoin (and it should, it was born on the back of Bitcoin's innovation) however the key difference is that Ethereum is programmable. This means that you can build and deploy decentralized applications on it whereas Bitcoin is only a payment platform.
Vitalik explains the purpose of Ethereum and how it differs from Bitcoin.
At the time of writing there was over 71 million wallets with an ETH balance and over 50.5 million smart contracts on Ethereum. $11.6 trillion moved through the Ethereum network in 2021 alone.
The Ethereum documentation is actually really beginner friendly and well worth reading if you have time.
The big news with Ethereum was that it changed from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake, a monumental task that was successfully completed in September 2022. This was known as the Ethereum Merge.
The Ethereum Merge is one of the most significant blockchain upgrades in the history of cryptocurrency. This video will talk you through what it was, what it involved and the risks that could have occurred.
What is the main difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum?