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 and decentralized applications (dApps) without the need for intermediaries. Unlike Bitcoin, which primarily serves as a digital currency, Ethereum's blockchain is programmable, making it a foundational technology for a wide range of innovative applications in finance, supply chain management, gaming, and more. This versatility has positioned Ethereum as a leading platform in the blockchain space, driving the growth of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).