$ETH
The Ethereum whitepaper, written by Vitalik Buterin, introduces Ethereum as a general-purpose blockchain platform designed to go beyond simple value transfer by enabling decentralized applications and programmable smart contracts. It explains how Ethereum functions as a global, decentralized computer where code can be executed trustlessly on the blockchain using the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The whitepaper outlines the concept of smart contracts as autonomous programs, paid for with ETH as gas, which prevents spam and allocates computational resources efficiently. It emphasizes flexibility, allowing developers to build decentralized finance systems, token standards, DAOs, and many other applications on a single shared infrastructure. Overall, the paper presents Ethereum as a foundational layer for a decentralized internet, where trust is replaced by code and cryptographic verification rather than centralized control.