Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum is the go-to platform for DeFi. $ETH is the token to pay for all the gas (transaction fees) to keep things running. Unlike Bitcoin's "digital gold" vibe, Ethereum's all about building flexible financial tools that work together like Lego.

In 2022, it switched to proof-of-stake, which is more energy-efficient, and stakers earn yields by securing the network. That's created real demand beyond just trading hype. Right now, only about 8.7% of ETH sits on exchanges, hinting at less selling pressure ahead.

The latest Fusaka upgrade boosted node speed and rollup efficiency, with PeerDAS making data scaling smoother. Layer-2s handle the heavy transaction lifting.

Ethereum dominates DeFi and is preferred by many institutions like BlackRock.

Ready to bank on blockchain? Lend, borrow, or earn yields via DeFi protocols like AAVE or Compound today. Start with a small deposit and experience decentralized lending without banks, all secured by Ethereum.

For those evaluating the best crypto to buy now based on real network usage and programmable finance, Ethereum remains the dominant settlement layer for decentralized applications.