Origin: In late 2013, Vitalik Buterin realized Bitcoin's scripting was too limited. He proposed a Turing-complete blockchain that could run any programmable logic.
Core Philosophy:
Universal Platform : Ethereum isn't just for payments; it abstracts complex underlying tech (networking, consensus) to serve as a general-purpose "World Computer."
Developer Empowering : Instead of building a blockchain from scratch, developers can simply write code (Smart Contracts) on top of Ethereum to launch Decentralized Applications (DApps).
Web 3.0 Vision : Co-founder Gavin Wood expanded this into the "Web 3" ecosystem, viewing Ethereum as the backbone of a decentralized internet. Milestone: On July 30, 2015, the first Ethereum block was officially mined.