Quick Comparison: Bitcoin vs Ethereum
| Feature | Bitcoin | Ethereum |
|---|---|---|
| Ticker | BTC | ETH |
| Launched | 2009 | 2015 |
| Consensus | Proof of Work | Proof of Stake |
| Max Supply | 21 million | Unlimited* |
| Use Case | Store of Value | Smart Contracts |
| Tx Speed | ~10 min | ~12 sec |
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the OG cryptocurrency — the one that started it all back in 2009. Created by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto, it's designed to be "digital gold": scarce, decentralized, and resistant to censorship. With only 21 million coins ever to exist, BTC has become the go-to store of value in crypto.
What makes Bitcoin special isn't fancy features — it's simplicity and security. The network has never been hacked, runs 24/7 without downtime, and is secured by more computing power than any system on Earth. For serious money that needs to move across borders without middlemen, nothing else comes close.
What is Ethereum?
Ethereum took Bitcoin's blockchain concept and asked "what if we could run programs on it?" Launched in 2015 by Vitalik Buterin, ETH introduced smart contracts — self-executing code that powers everything from DeFi to NFTs. It's basically a decentralized computer that anyone can build on.
Since "The Merge" in 2022, Ethereum runs on Proof of Stake, slashing energy use by 99.95%. This makes ETH not just programmable money, but actually yields income through staking (currently ~4% APY). It's the backbone of Web3, hosting thousands of apps and billions in locked value.
Key Differences
- Purpose: BTC is digital gold, ETH is programmable money
- Supply: Bitcoin is capped at 21M, ETH has no hard cap but is now deflationary post-Merge
- Speed: ETH transactions confirm in seconds vs. BTC's 10+ minutes
- Smart Contracts: ETH runs complex apps, BTC is intentionally simple
- Energy: ETH uses 99.95% less energy after switching to Proof of Stake
- Staking: ETH holders earn ~4% APY, BTC requires mining hardware
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Bitcoin if: You want a long-term store of value, don't need fancy features, and prioritize security above everything. BTC is the "safe haven" of crypto.
Choose Ethereum if: You want to use DeFi, stake for passive income, or interact with dApps and NFTs. ETH is where the innovation happens.
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