What Is the Difference Between Bitcoin and Ethereum?

Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two most popular cryptocurrencies in the world, are based on blockchain technology. Even still, they have many differences. What are they? Which Ethereum or Bitcoin crypto is better for you? Let's figure it out!

Bitcoin

Bitcoin was launched in January 2009. Satoshi Nakamoto introduced it as an online currency that, unlike fiat money, does not have a physical medium and is not subject to any central authority. Currently, Bitcoin still retains these characteristics and is mainly used as a store of value and a means of transaction.

Interestingly, one of its key features is the limited number of coins: the maximum supply is 21 million coins. This feature makes BTC a deflationary asset, unlike fiat currencies.

Another feature of BTC is the volatility of its price. That makes Bitcoin a subject of speculation in the crypto market. But that's okay! Even despite this and other factors, Bitcoin continues to attract the attention of investors and blockchain supporters for more than ten years now.

Ethereum

What is ETH currency? ETH is considered one of the most significant cryptocurrencies and blockchain platforms with additional functionality. Created by Vitalik Buterin in 2015, it offers the ability to create smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps), without control or interference from third parties.

Ethereum is commonly used for trading on exchanges, as an investment, or as a means of payment for goods and services. The same thing happens with many other coins. But why then does Ethereum take second place in terms of market capitalization? It does this through its technological innovation and wide range of options for developers. That is why to this day this cryptocurrency is a popular subject for research and investment.

Bitcoin vs Ethereum: Key Similarities

Of course, both being digital assets Bitcoin and Ethereum have common features. Here they are:

• Decentralization: Both operate on a decentralized network. So they are not regulated by central banks or other financial authorities. Instead of banks, regulation involves several nodes (computers) that ensure the safety and reliability of transactions.

• Blockchain: They are both based on a public decentralized distributed ledger called a blockchain. The way it works is that all transactions carried out in BTC and Ethers are recorded and stored in blocks. This ensures transparency and confirmation of transactions.

• Crypto Market Leaders: Both coins occupy first and second places in terms of capitalization. And in general they are supported by a large and active community of developers, miners and users.

Key Differences Between Bitcoin and Ethereum

What's the difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum? Let's find out in the table:

Crypto	Coin Issue	Mechanism	Goal	Price	Speed	Scalability
Bitcoin	Coin Issue A limited number of coins of 21 million	Mechanism Works on a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism	Goal A digital currency and an alternative to fiat currencies	Price Higher price	Speed Takes about 10 minutes to confirm transactions	Scalability Scalability is about 7-8 transactions per second
Ethereum	Coin Issue No maximum emission limit	Mechanism Works on a Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism	Goal A universal platform for creating smart contracts and decentralized applications	Price Lower price	Speed Takes a few seconds to confirm transactions	Scalability Scalability is about 16-20 transactions per second

Which is Better: Bitcoin vs Ethereum

It is difficult to answer. Even though many people wonder why is Ethereum better than Bitcoin, there is no guarantee that this is true.

In fact, none of the coins is necessarily better or worse than the other. They are just different and have different characteristics. That's why deciding whether Bitcoin or Ethereum is better is something you should decide for yourself, taking into account some aspects:

• Technological Capabilities: Both coins are good to use for financial transactions. However, if you want to use them not only for that purpose, and also are interested in developing complex applications, then it's better to choose Ethereum. Because it offers more advanced technological capabilities thanks to the functionality of smart contracts.

• Purpose of Use: Determine why you are choosing a coin. If you need a medium of exchange or an investment asset - choose BTC. Why? Because it is more suitable option due to its widespread acceptance and popularity. But if you are interested in smart contracts, decentralized applications or NFTs, then choose Ethereum instead.

• Cost: Transaction fees for these coins differ. While BTC-based transactions are slower, Ethereum-based transactions tend to be much faster. But this convenience comes with a high cost, known as gas fees. You can find out about them and how such commissions can be fraught, especially for small transactions, by clicking on the link.

This concludes our article where the question of what is the difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum was discussed. We hope you know the answer now. Thank you very much for reading. Don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments.