<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="false">Ethereum is a decentralized platform aiming to be a world computer without interference or downtime.Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum allows developers to build decentralized apps with smart contracts.Founded in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin and Gavin Wood, Ethereum runs on a peer-to-peer network with consensus rules.Ethereum evolves through stages like Frontier, Homestead, Metropolis, and is transitioning to Serenity (Ethereum 2.0).