Ethereum was priced at $2,286.60 at 6:15 a.m. Eastern Time, up $369.19 from the previous day and 19.25%, but down roughly $2,050, or 47.25%, from a year earlier. The second-largest cryptocurrency has a market capitalization of about $233 billion, behind Bitcoin at $1.33 trillion and ahead of Tether at about $183 billion. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum is also a decentralized computing platform that supports applications, decentralized finance (DeFi), and smart contracts (self-executing blockchain code), with ETH used to pay for network activity. Ethereum changed from proof-of-work mining to staking (locking crypto to earn rewards) in 2022. Its price is influenced by speculation, network activity, economic conditions, regulation, and competition from blockchains including Solana and Avalanche. Investors can gain exposure by buying ETH directly, using Ethereum ETFs, purchasing related stocks, or holding ETH through a crypto IRA. The asset has delivered substantial long-term gains but has also suffered steep declines, making diversification and a measured position important. Forecasts for 2030 range from about $10,000 to Standard Chartered's $40,000 prediction, although future performance remains uncertain.