Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables smart contracts, DApps, NFTs, DeFi, and other innovations. Unlike other cryptocurrencies that only serve as digital money, Ethereum is a programmable network that can support various use cases and applications.
Ethereum was founded in 2013 by Vitalik Buterin, a visionary programmer who wanted to create a more flexible and powerful platform for decentralized applications. He wrote a white paper that outlined his idea of Ethereum and how it could enable a new generation of Web 3.0 applications that are censorship-resistant, transparent, and trustless.
Buterin was joined by other co-founders, such as Gavin Wood, Charles Hoskinson, Anthony Di Iorio, and Joseph Lubin, who helped develop and launch the Ethereum network. In 2014, they conducted a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $18 million worth of ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of Ethereum. The network went live on July 30, 2015, with the first block mined by Wood.
Since then, Ethereum has undergone several upgrades and forks to improve its functionality, security, and scalability. Some of the major milestones in Ethereum's history include:
- The DAO hack and the Ethereum Classic split in 2016
- The Metropolis hard forks (Byzantium and Constantinople) in 2017 and 2019
- The Istanbul hard fork in 2019
- The launch of the Beacon Chain (Phase 0 of Ethereum 2.0) in 2020
- The Berlin hard fork in 2021
- The London hard fork (including EIP-1559) in 2021
- The Merge (transition from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake) in 2022
Ethereum is currently the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and the most popular platform for DeFi and NFTs. It has a vibrant and diverse community of developers, users, and enthusiasts who are constantly innovating and building on Ethereum. Ethereum aims to become a global computer that can power the future of the decentralized web.
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