Created by Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum is one of the most popular altcoins. Running on a completely separate blockchain to Bitcoin, Ethereum is not only a currency but also a network that hosts a wide range of decentralised applications known as dApps.
Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum is not exclusively a cryptocurrency. Ethereum does have a cryptographic token, Ether, a necessary element (“fuel”) for operating the platform, but this is only one aspect of a much larger framework. Contrary to popular belief, these two cryptocurrencies are not rivals; Ethereum would never be possible without Bitcoin—both the technology and the currency— and they should be considered complementary within the digital ecosystem.