Ethereum
<div id="model-response-message-contentr_55bf542b31a41f9a" class="markdown markdown-main-panel stronger enable-updated-hr-color" dir="ltr"> Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that is often referred to as the "world computer." Unlike Bitcoin, which was primarily designed as a digital currency, Ethereum was built to be a programmable blockchain. Its main innovation is the use of <b>smart contracts</b>, which are self-executing pieces of code that automatically run when pre-set conditions are met. These contracts enable developers to build a wide range of decentralized applications, or <b>dApps</b>, from financial services (DeFi) to games and digital collectibles (NFTs). The network's native cryptocurrency, <b>Ether (ETH)</b>, is used to pay for transactions and computational services on the blockchain, a cost known as "gas." Since its launch in 2015, Ethereum has become the backbone of a vast ecosystem of applications and projects, paving the way for a more open, transparent, and decentralized internet, often called Web3. In 2022, it underwent a major upgrade known as "The Merge," which transitioned the network to a more energy-efficient <b>Proof-of-Stake (PoS)</b> consensus mechanism. </div>
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