Bitcoin vs Ethereum: Key Differences (BTC vs ETH)
Complete side-by-side comparison of Bitcoin and Ethereum. Price, market cap, technology, and more.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the original cryptocurrency that started it all. Created in 2009 by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto, it introduced the world to blockchain technology and decentralized money. With a hard cap of 21 million coins, Bitcoin has become known as digital gold - a hedge against inflation and a store of value that operates outside traditional financial systems.
What is Ethereum?
Ethereum changed the game by introducing smart contracts to blockchain. Founded by Vitalik Buterin and launched in 2015, it's the backbone of decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and thousands of dApps. The 2022 Merge switched it to Proof of Stake, cutting energy use by over 99%.
Price Evolution
Percentage change from start of period
BTC-22.51%ETH-32.48%Detailed Comparison
| Metric | BTC | ETH |
|---|---|---|
| BTC ETH | ||
| Price & Market | ||
| Price | $65,233 | $1,903.95 |
Price $65,233 $1,903.95 | ||
| Market Cap | $1.30T | $229.79B |
Market Cap $1.30T $229.79B | ||
| 24h Volume | $40.97B | $18.68B |
24h Volume $40.97B $18.68B | ||
| Volume/Cap Ratio | 3.14% | 8.13% |
Volume/Cap Ratio 3.14% 8.13% | ||
| Market Dominance | 0.59621878% | 0.10502795% |
Market Dominance 0.59621878% 0.10502795% | ||
| All-Time High | $126,080 | $4,946.05 |
All-Time High $126,080 $4,946.05 | ||
| ATH Date | Oct 6, 2025 | Aug 24, 2025 |
ATH Date Oct 6, 2025 Aug 24, 2025 | ||
| Performance | ||
| 24h Change | 0.53% | 1.19% |
24h Change 0.53% 1.19% | ||
| 7d Change | 4.64% | 4.23% |
7d Change 4.64% 4.23% | ||
| 30d Change | 22.51% | 32.48% |
30d Change 22.51% 32.48% | ||
| Supply | ||
| Circulating Supply | 20.00M | 120.69M |
Circulating Supply 20.00M 120.69M | ||
| Total Supply | 20.00M | 120.69M |
Total Supply 20.00M 120.69M | ||
| Max Supply | 21.00M | Unlimited |
Max Supply 21.00M Unlimited | ||
| Technology | ||
| Consensus | Proof of Work (PoW) | Proof of Stake (PoS) |
Consensus Proof of Work (PoW) Proof of Stake (PoS) | ||
| Block Time | ~10 minutes | ~12 seconds |
Block Time ~10 minutes ~12 seconds | ||
| TPS (Transactions/sec) | 7 | 15-30 |
TPS (Transactions/sec) 7 15-30 | ||
| Launch Year | 2009 | 2015 |
Launch Year 2009 2015 | ||
| Transaction Fees | ||
| Average Fee | $0.50-$3 | $2-$20 |
Average Fee $0.50-$3 $2-$20 | ||
| Fee Model | UTXO-based mining fees | Gas-based (EIP-1559) |
Fee Model UTXO-based mining fees Gas-based (EIP-1559) | ||
| General | ||
| Primary Use Case | Store of value, Digital gold | Smart contracts, DeFi, NFTs |
Primary Use Case Store of value, Digital gold Smart contracts, DeFi, NFTs | ||
| Founder | Satoshi Nakamoto | Vitalik Buterin |
Founder Satoshi Nakamoto Vitalik Buterin | ||
| Website | bitcoin.org | ethereum.org |
Website | ||
| Volatility & Risk | ||
| Drawdown from ATH | 48.3% | 61.5% |
Drawdown from ATH 48.3% 61.5% | ||
Technology Comparison
Use Cases & Ecosystem
Why Bitcoin?- ✓The original cryptocurrency with 15+ years of unbroken security
- ✓Fixed supply of 21 million - true digital scarcity
- ✓Institutional adoption: ETFs, corporate treasuries, nation states
- ✓Most liquid and widely recognized cryptocurrency
Why Ethereum?- ✓The backbone of DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 innovation
- ✓99.95% more energy efficient after The Merge
- ✓Largest developer community in crypto by far
- ✓Layer 2 scaling solutions making it affordable again
Bitcoin Risks
- ✗Slow transactions (~10 min blocks) compared to newer chains
- ✗High energy consumption from Proof of Work mining
- ✗Limited programmability - no native smart contracts
Ethereum Risks
- ✗High fees during network congestion ($50+ gas possible)
- ✗No max supply cap - inflation depends on network activity
- ✗Complex roadmap - upgrades take years to implement
Investment Considerations
The Verdict
Bitcoin and Ethereum aren't really competitors - they're complementary assets solving different problems. Bitcoin is digital gold: a scarce, secure store of value that's proven itself over 15 years. Ethereum is the world computer: programmable money powering DeFi, NFTs, and endless innovation. Most serious portfolios hold both. BTC for stability and long-term value preservation, ETH for exposure to the Web3 ecosystem. The "flippening" debate misses the point - they serve different purposes and can coexist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH)?
Bitcoin is primarily a store of value and digital gold, focusing on security and decentralization with a Proof of Work consensus. Ethereum, on the other hand, is a programmable blockchain that supports smart contracts and decentralized applications, using Proof of Stake after the 2022 Merge.
Which cryptocurrency has faster transaction speeds, BTC or ETH?
Ethereum processes transactions faster than Bitcoin, with a block time of around 12 seconds compared to Bitcoin's 10 minutes. Ethereum also supports 15-30 transactions per second (TPS), while Bitcoin handles about 7 TPS.
Is Bitcoin or Ethereum more energy-efficient?
Ethereum is more energy-efficient since its 2022 upgrade to Proof of Stake, reducing energy consumption by over 99%. Bitcoin still uses Proof of Work, which requires significantly more energy for mining and transaction validation.
Which token is better for investing as a store of value, BTC or ETH?
Bitcoin is widely regarded as digital gold and a strong store of value due to its capped supply of 21 million coins. Ethereum is more focused on utility and growth through smart contracts and decentralized applications, making it a different kind of investment.
Can I use both Bitcoin and Ethereum for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications?
Ethereum is the primary platform for DeFi due to its smart contract capabilities, hosting most DeFi projects and NFTs. Bitcoin does not natively support smart contracts, so it is less commonly used directly in DeFi ecosystems.