Ethereum, created by Vitalik Buterin in 2015, is a leading decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that allows developers to build and deploy decentralized applications (dApps). Built on a public blockchain, Ethereum uses a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus algorithm but is transitioning to proof-of-stake (PoS) with Ethereum 2.0. Key features include support for smart contracts, which are self-executing agreements written in code, and custom digital assets like ERC-20 tokens for various uses. Ethereum also supports non-fungible tokens (NFTs) through the ERC-721 standard, enabling unique digital assets for applications such as digital art, collectibles, and gaming.