When Ethereum debuted in 2015, it was hailed as the more savvy successor to Bitcoin because it offered tools that allowed programmers to create apps that could perform transactions automatically rather than just serving as a means of exchange.
Now almost four years later, the network running the Ether cryptocurrency is losing market share. Long-promised projects touting better features are starting to be delivered on rival platforms and some startups are using coins such as EOS and Stellar to raise funds through initial coin offerings despite lingering regulatory concerns about the sales.