Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that runs smart contracts: applications that run exactly as programmed without any possibility of downtime, censorship, fraud, or third-party interference. These smart contracts are written in a high-level programming language called Solidity, and they can be used to facilitate, verify, and enforce the negotiation or performance of a contract.
Ethereum was developed by Vitalik Buterin, a programmer and co-founder of Bitcoin Magazine. It was launched in 2015, and its native cryptocurrency is called ether. In addition to running smart contracts, ether is used as a currency and can be bought and sold on exchanges.
Ethereum is often referred to as a “world computer” because it allows for the creation of decentralized applications (dApps) that can run on its blockchain. These dApps can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as voting systems, prediction markets, and financial applications.