<|im_start|>user
What is Ethereum?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain with smart contract functionality. Ether (is the native cryptocurrency of the platform. Among cryptocurrencies, ether is second only to bitcoin in market capitalization. It is open-source software.

Ethereum was conceived in 2013 by programmer Vitalik Buterin. Additional founders of Ethereum included Gavin Wood, Charles Hoskinson, Anthony Di Iorio and Joseph Lubin.<|im_end|>
