# .ether (Mainnet) .ether (Mainnet): Launched on October 11, 2022, on the Ethereum blockchain. Within a few hours, over 10,000 registrations were made. It is the first name service launched as part of the Ether Project. Website: [https://ether.domains](https://ether.domains/) Twitter: Github (Integration) : E-mail : {% embed url="" %} Ether Network {% endembed %} > Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain platform that enables developers to build and deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). It was proposed by Vitalik Buterin in late 2013 and went live on July 30, 2015. Ethereum is one of the most well-known and widely used cryptocurrencies, second only to Bitcoin in terms of market capitalization and popularity. > > Unlike traditional centralized systems, Ethereum operates on a distributed network of computers (nodes) worldwide. This decentralized structure ensures that there is no central authority governing the platform, making it resistant to censorship and single points of failure. > > The native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network is called Ether (ETH). It is used as a means of value exchange within the platform, primarily to compensate miners for validating transactions and to pay for executing smart contracts. > > Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code. They automatically execute when the predefined conditions are met, without the need for intermediaries or third parties. This feature allows for the creation of various applications and decentralized services across different industries, such as finance, gaming, supply chain management, and more. > > Ethereum also introduced the concept of ERC-20 tokens, which are tokens built on the Ethereum blockchain that adhere to a specific standard. These tokens have become the foundation for many Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and tokenization projects. > > One of the significant advancements planned for Ethereum is its transition from a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) mechanism. The upgrade, known as Ethereum 2.0, aims to improve the network's scalability, security, and energy efficiency. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.ether.domains/ns/name-services/.ether-mainnet.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.