Ethereum Launch
Web3 / crypto history
Ethereum officially launched on July 30, 2015, with the mining of its genesis block, establishing the first widely-adopted blockchain platform capable of executing arbitrary smart contracts. Created by Vitalik Buterin and developed collaboratively, Ethereum introduced the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), enabling developers to write programmable applications on a decentralized network. Unlike Bitcoin's limited scripting language, Ethereum's Turing-complete architecture allowed complex logic execution, opening possibilities for decentralized finance, digital assets, and autonomous organizations. The network began with approximately 72 million pre-mined ETH distributed to early contributors and investors. Example: The Ethereum genesis block contained the initial allocation of 72 million ETH and launched with a modest network of nodes run by developers and enthusiasts. Within years, Ethereum became home to thousands of decentralized applications including Uniswap, Aave, and OpenSea, fundamentally reshaping cryptocurrency's scope. Why it matters for crypto history: Ethereum's launch transformed cryptocurrency from a payment system into a programmable platform. It enabled the entire DeFi ecosystem, NFT markets, and Web3 applications, fundamentally expanding blockchain technology's real-world utility beyond peer-to-peer transactions.
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