Ethereum is a blockchain network that makes the creation and execution of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) possible. It’s not only a digital currency, it also provides a platform for developers to build and deploy their own applications on top of its blockchain.

At its core, Ethereum is a distributed ledger technology, meaning it maintains a decentralized database of transactions across multiple computers (nodes). The network of nodes on the Ethereum blockchain ensures the security, transparency, and unchangeability of the stored data.

Moreover, it enables the use of smart contracts, which are programs that can be executed according to pre-set rules written directly into their programming code. Providing a network and blockchain that can execute complex logic in a decentralized manner enables developers to create decentralized applications that interact with digital assets transparently and securely. The name of the network or system is Ethereum, while Ether (ETH) is the actual digital asset.

So, in simple terms, Ethereum is a digital system that supports a digital asset (Ether) and allows people to write and execute smart contracts and create Decentralized Applications (dApps) that no single person or company controls.