Ethereum Secrets
Ethereum is one of the most well-known and widely used cryptocurrencies, recognized for its potential applications beyond being just a digital currency. Since its creation in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum has gained prominence primarily through the introduction of smart contracts, enabling secure, automatic transactions without intermediaries. This functionality attracted the development of a range of decentralized applications (DApps) on its blockchain, encompassing areas from DeFi (decentralized finance) to NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and gaming.
In recent years, Ethereum has undergone several major upgrades to improve its scalability, security, and energy efficiency. The most significant was the transition to a proof-of-stake (PoS) model through Ethereum 2.0. This shift, which took place in September 2022 with the so-called "The Merge," drastically reduced the network's energy consumption, making it more attractive to investors and developers concerned with sustainability. Additionally, the upgrade brought more security and stability to the network.