Ethereum

Unlike a typical cryptocurrency, Ethereum is a decentralized platform that enables the development of decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. This means Ethereum is not controlled by any company, institution, or other centralized authority. The combination of Ethereum's cryptocurrency functionality and its digital platform capabilities gives it the potential to significantly transform how we conduct business and exchange value over the internet.

The "Merge" referred to Ethereum's transition from a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism to a proof-of-stake (PoS) validation system. Ethereum's core developers had been pushing for this transition for many years, hoping that a PoS model would make the network easier to scale without sacrificing decentralization. Developers also stated that PoS could reduce Ethereum's environmental impact. In 2022, Ethereum renamed its transition from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake, previously known as "Ethereum 2.0", to "The Merge". The Merge went live on September 15, 2022, after the successful merging of the Goerli testnet on August 11, 2022. The Merge process involved fusing the original PoW Ethereum mainchain with the new PoS Beacon Chain. During the Merge, all the transaction data and decentralized applications (dApps) on the PoW Ethereum migrated to the new PoS chain.

Compared to Bitcoin, Ethereum has some unique advantages: -- Ethereum has no supply cap, while Bitcoin has a maximum supply limit. -- Ethereum supports the development of smart contracts and decentralized applications, while Bitcoin is more solely a payment mechanism. This gives Ethereum a broader range of use cases. However, the two cryptocurrencies each have their own pros and cons, and may be suitable for different use cases. Whether one is "better" than the other depends on the specific needs and requirements.