What is the Cryptocurrency Ethereum?

Ethereum is one of the leading cryptocurrencies right now, but what is it?
The cryptocurrency Ethereum works like any other, a token is the single unit of exchange, transactions are tethered together through a blockchain, and that distribution ledger provides a track-record of each 'Ether' token.
Since Ethereum is a decentralized currency, its interconnected blockchain community validates any transaction; when one occurs, the blockchain network becomes aware.
Since its start last in 2017, Ethereum has grown in value exponentially, from $10 per Ether-token to over $1,100.