Ether (ETH)

Ether (ETH) is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain and serves multiple purposes within the network. It is used to pay for transaction fees, often referred to as "gas," which covers the computational resources required to validate transactions and execute smart contracts on the network. In addition to facilitating transactions, ETH is also used as collateral in decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, and it powers decentralized applications (Dapps) that run on the Ethereum platform.

As the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization after Bitcoin, Ether has a significant role in the broader crypto ecosystem. Its utility extends beyond simple value transfer, as it underpins the execution of complex smart contracts and decentralized applications, making Ethereum one of the most versatile and innovative blockchain networks.