Ethereum is a digital platform that runs on blockchain technology. It's a decentralized network that allows users to write and execute smart contracts. The name 'Ethereum' derives from the Ethereum Virtual Machine, an open source code that drives the EVM. It's also commonly referred to as ETH.

First introduced in 2013 by pseudonymous coder, Ethereum is a blockchain-based platform that functions as a software system for decentralized applications. It seeks to supplant existing platforms with more efficient methods of running smart contracts and decentralized applications. Furthermore, it intends to do so while removing the need for mining- the process of generating new coins. The creation of new ETH is referred to as 'token generation.'

As of 2018, there have been over 230 decentralized applications built on top of Ethereum. These include games, social media, banking and data management. Most notably are CryptoKitties and CryptoPunks, two of the most popular DApps created on the Ethereum platform. Both allow users to transfer assets and perform transactions using Ethereum's smart contract capabilities. On top of this, there are thousands of development teams building DApps on top of the Ethereum platform. As a result, the number of available applications is growing daily.

Ethereum's appeal lies in its ability to scale easily to meet the increasing demand for decentralized applications (DApps). This is due to the growing number of developers interested in building applications on top of the Ethereum platform. Furthermore, there are hundreds of investors interested in buying and selling ETH for profit. Thanks to these factors, Ethereum has seen its price rise substantially since its introduction.

The high level of interest in ETH has led to many myths surrounding the digital currency- especially regarding its price swings. Many believe that ETH has increased dramatically in value over the past few years due to market speculation rather than technical improvements or developer interest. Others point out that this speculation has pushed down the price of ETH while creating instability in the market. At present, there is no way to determine whether these factors have any bearing on price movements or not.

Ethereum is a powerful platform with a growing ecosystem that includes DApps and ICOs (initial coin offerings). There's also an ever-growing base of developers interested in building new apps for the Ethereum platform. While there are many factors driving up the price of ETH, it's difficult to determine if any of this speculation has any impact on price movements.