Bitcoin vs Ethereum
type: Article
description: Bitcoin is a pure digital currency designed for peer-to-peer transactions with fixed supply, while Ethereum is a programmable blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications with dynamic supply. Bitcoin has 10x larger market cap ($1.3T vs $130B as of 2026), but Ethereum processes more daily transactions and hosts a vastly larger ecosystem of DeFi and NFT applications.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-09T07:50:02.041Z
date created: 2026-07-09T07:50:02.041Z
date modified: 2026-07-09T07:50:02.091Z
content reference time: 2026-07-09T07:50:02.091Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Bitcoin
about: Ethereum
abstract: Bitcoin is a pure digital currency designed for peer-to-peer transactions with fixed supply, while Ethereum is a programmable blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications with dynamic supply. Bitcoin has 10x larger market cap ($1.3T vs $130B as of 2026), but Ethereum processes more daily transactions and hosts a vastly larger ecosystem of DeFi and NFT applications.
text: Primary Purpose. Market Capitalization (2026). Daily Transaction Volume. Block Time. Maximum Supply. Smart Contract Capability. DeFi Applications Hosted
conclusion text: Choose Bitcoin if you want a deflationary store of value with maximum security, proven 16-year track record, and protection against inflation—ideal for long-term wealth preservation. Choose Ethereum if you need a programmable platform for building decentralized applications, want faster transactions, or seek exposure to the rapidly growing DeFi and Web3 ecosystem.
additional property: Market Cap
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: $1.3 Trillion | Ethereum: $400 Billion
  value reference: Bitcoin
additional property: Current Price Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: Below $100,000 | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Institutional Ownership Trend
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: Growing but cautious due to 2026 volatility | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Historical Track Record
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 16 years | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Transaction Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 10 minutes (block time) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Storage & Custody Costs
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 0.1-0.5% (digital custody) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Regulatory Acceptance
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: Uncertain, varies by country | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: 2026 Price Performance YTD
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: -35% (estimated) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Annual Volatility (Implied)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 60-80% | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Maximum Supply
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 21 million coins (fixed) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Inflation Hedge Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: Theoretical, unproven long-term | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Geopolitical Resilience
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: Improving but unproven in major crises | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Accessibility to Retail Investors
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: High (digital platforms, 24/7) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Market Capitalization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: $1.30 trillion | Ethereum: $130 billion
  value reference: Bitcoin
additional property: Annual Energy Consumption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: ~150 TWh/year | Ethereum: ~0.07 TWh/year
  value reference: Ethereum
additional property: Transactions Per Second
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 7 TPS | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Average Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: $5-30 USD | Ethereum: $1.25 (average)
  value reference: Ethereum
additional property: Network Age / Proven Security
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 15+ years since 2009 | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Smart Contract Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: Limited (Layer 2 only) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Consensus Mechanism
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: Proof of Work (PoW) | Ethereum: Proof of Stake (since 2022)
additional property: Maximum Supply Cap
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 21 million (fixed) | Ethereum: Unlimited (uncapped)
additional property: Daily Trading Volume
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: $40 billion | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Average Block Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 600 seconds (10 min) | Ethereum: 12 seconds
  value reference: Ethereum
additional property: Time Since Launch
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 15 years (2009) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Circulating Supply
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 21 million BTC (20.5M circulating) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Consensus Mechanism Energy Efficiency
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: ~1,500 kWh | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: 10-Year Annualized Return (2014-2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: ~125% | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Annual Volatility
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 70-80% | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Worst Single-Year Loss
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: -65% (2022) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Dividend Yield
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 0% | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Market Cap / Total Value
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: $2.0 trillion | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Correlation with Stocks (S&P 500)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 0.25 | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Regulatory Framework Maturity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: Evolving, inconsistent globally | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Number of Constituents / Diversification
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 1 (single asset) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Annual Price Volatility (Standard Deviation)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 75% | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Maximum Historical Drawdown
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: −73% (2022) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Annual Storage/Custody Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 0.25% | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Trading Hours Per Week
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 168 (24/7) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Average Annual Return (2015-2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 62.5% | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Correlation to S&P 500
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: +0.45 | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Historical Track Record
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 16 years | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Minimum Investment Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: $1 (fractional to 8 decimals) | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Daily Transaction Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: ~300,000 | Ethereum: ~1,200,000
  value reference: Ethereum
additional property: Network Hash Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 680 EH/s | Ethereum: N/A (Proof-of-Stake)
additional property: Active Smart Contracts
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: ~50 | Ethereum: ~3,000+
  value reference: Ethereum
additional property: Launch Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: 2009 | Ethereum: 2015
  value reference: Ethereum
additional property: Annual Volatility (2020-2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: ~65% | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Sharpe Ratio (2020-2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: ~0.4 | Ethereum: N/A
additional property: Worst Single-Year Return on Record
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Bitcoin: -65% (2022) | Ethereum: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/bitcoin
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/bitcoin
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/ethereum
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/ethereum
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/bitcoin-vs-ethereum))
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/bitcoin-vs-ethereum))
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bitcoin-vs-ethereum
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ethereum-vs-solana
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ethereum-vs-polkadot
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ethereum-vs-cardano
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bitcoin-vs-cardano
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bitcoin-vs-cardano))
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bitcoin-vs-sp500))
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ethereum-vs-cardano)
teaches: How to choose between Bitcoin and Ethereum
genre: Finance

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Bitcoin
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Decentralized digital currency and store of value using blockchain technology
image: ImageObject
  caption: Bitcoin
subject of: Bitcoin vs Ethereum
image: ImageObject
  caption: Bitcoin

Ethereum
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Programmable blockchain platform enabling smart contracts, DeFi, and decentralized applications with dynamic supply.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Ethereum
subject of: Bitcoin vs Ethereum
image: ImageObject
  caption: Ethereum

Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Bitcoin vs Ethereum. Contains 76 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Market Cap
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Value
variable measured: Current Price Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Valuation
variable measured: Institutional Ownership Trend
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Historical Track Record
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: Transaction Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Utility
variable measured: Storage & Custody Costs
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economics
variable measured: Regulatory Acceptance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Regulation
variable measured: 2026 Price Performance YTD
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Annual Volatility (Implied)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Risk
variable measured: Maximum Supply
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scarcity
variable measured: Inflation Hedge Quality
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Protection
variable measured: Geopolitical Resilience
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Macro Hedging
variable measured: Accessibility to Retail Investors
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Access
variable measured: Market Capitalization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market
variable measured: Annual Energy Consumption
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Environmental
variable measured: Transactions Per Second
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Average Transaction Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost Efficiency
variable measured: Network Age / Proven Security
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security & History
variable measured: Smart Contract Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Consensus Mechanism
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technical
variable measured: Maximum Supply Cap
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Tokenomics
variable measured: Daily Trading Volume
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Data
variable measured: Average Block Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Time Since Launch
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: History
variable measured: Circulating Supply
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Supply Metrics
variable measured: Consensus Mechanism Energy Efficiency
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Sustainability
variable measured: 10-Year Annualized Return (2014-2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Annual Volatility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Risk
variable measured: Worst Single-Year Loss
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Risk
variable measured: Dividend Yield
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Income
variable measured: Market Cap / Total Value
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale
variable measured: Correlation with Stocks (S&P 500)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Diversification
variable measured: Regulatory Framework Maturity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Regulation
variable measured: Number of Constituents / Diversification
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Diversification
variable measured: Annual Price Volatility (Standard Deviation)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Risk Profile
variable measured: Maximum Historical Drawdown
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Risk Profile
variable measured: Annual Storage/Custody Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Costs
variable measured: Trading Hours Per Week
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Liquidity
variable measured: Average Annual Return (2015-2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Correlation to S&P 500
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Portfolio Diversification
variable measured: Historical Track Record
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: Minimum Investment Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Daily Transaction Count
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Network Hash Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Active Smart Contracts
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Launch Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: History
variable measured: Annual Volatility (2020-2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Risk
variable measured: Sharpe Ratio (2020-2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Risk-Adjusted Returns
variable measured: Worst Single-Year Return on Record
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Risk
variable measured: Minimum Investment (via ETF/Fund)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Correlation to S&P 500
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Diversification
variable measured: Trading Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Transaction Speed (Real-World TPS)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Network Validators
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Decentralization
variable measured: Average Transaction Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost Efficiency
variable measured: Smart Contract Market Dominance
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Global DEX Volume Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Activity
variable measured: Theoretical Maximum TPS
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Consensus Protocol Upgrade Timeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Development
variable measured: Mainnet Smart Contracts Deployed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem Maturity
variable measured: Total Value Locked (TVL)
variable measured: Average Gas Fee
variable measured: Transaction Throughput
variable measured: Number of Active Validators
variable measured: Launch Date
variable measured: Daily Transaction Volume
variable measured: Energy per Transaction
variable measured: DeFi Total Value Locked
variable measured: Active Developer Count
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bitcoin-vs-ethereum))

Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Bitcoin vs Ethereum.
has defined term: Value
has defined term: Valuation
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Reliability
has defined term: Utility
has defined term: Economics
has defined term: Regulation
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Risk
has defined term: Scarcity
has defined term: Protection
has defined term: Macro Hedging
has defined term: Access
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Environmental
has defined term: Cost Efficiency
has defined term: Security & History
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: Tokenomics
has defined term: Market Data
has defined term: History
has defined term: Supply Metrics
has defined term: Sustainability
has defined term: Income
has defined term: Scale
has defined term: Diversification
has defined term: Risk Profile
has defined term: Costs
has defined term: Liquidity
has defined term: Portfolio Diversification
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Risk-Adjusted Returns
has defined term: Decentralization
has defined term: Market Activity
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Development
has defined term: Ecosystem Maturity
has defined term: Ecosystem Size
has defined term: Timeline
has defined term: Network Activity
has defined term: Ecosystem Strength
has defined term: Development Community
has defined term: Developer Tools
has defined term: DeFi Adoption

Value
type: DefinedTerm
term code: value
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Valuation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: valuation
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reliability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reliability
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Utility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: utility
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economics
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Regulation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: regulation
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Risk
type: DefinedTerm
term code: risk
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scarcity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scarcity
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Protection
type: DefinedTerm
term code: protection
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Macro Hedging
type: DefinedTerm
term code: macro-hedging
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Access
type: DefinedTerm
term code: access
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Environmental
type: DefinedTerm
term code: environmental
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost Efficiency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost-efficiency
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security & History
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-&-history
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Tokenomics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: tokenomics
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Data
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-data
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

History
type: DefinedTerm
term code: history
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Supply Metrics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: supply-metrics
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Sustainability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: sustainability
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Income
type: DefinedTerm
term code: income
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Diversification
type: DefinedTerm
term code: diversification
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Risk Profile
type: DefinedTerm
term code: risk-profile
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Costs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: costs
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Liquidity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: liquidity
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Portfolio Diversification
type: DefinedTerm
term code: portfolio-diversification
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Risk-Adjusted Returns
type: DefinedTerm
term code: risk-adjusted-returns
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Decentralization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: decentralization
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Activity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-activity
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem Maturity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem-maturity
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem-size
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Timeline
type: DefinedTerm
term code: timeline
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Network Activity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: network-activity
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem Strength
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem-strength
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development-community
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Tools
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-tools
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

DeFi Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: defi-adoption
in defined term set: Bitcoin vs Ethereum — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-09T07:50:02.091Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: bitcoin-vs-ethereum))
main entity: Which is a better investment in 2026: Bitcoin or Ethereum?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: This depends on your investment thesis. Bitcoin is favored as a long-term store of value due to its fixed 21 million supply, 10x larger market cap ($1.3T), and institutional adoption. Ethereum offers higher growth potential with its programmable ecosystem hosting 3,000+ DeFi applications, but carries more technical execution risk. Historical data shows Bitcoin has lower volatility (60-day realized vol ~45% vs Ethereum ~52%) making it more suitable for risk-averse investors.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can Bitcoin do everything Ethereum does?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: No. Bitcoin's scripting capabilities are intentionally limited for security reasons. Ethereum is Turing-complete, meaning it can execute arbitrary smart contracts and host decentralized applications (DeFi, NFTs, DAOs). Bitcoin can handle basic conditional transactions via Taproot upgrade, but cannot replicate Ethereum's 3,000+ active protocols. However, Bitcoin's simplicity is also a strength—it has never experienced a major security breach in 16 years.
    language: en-US
main entity: Why does Ethereum use less energy than Bitcoin?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Bitcoin uses Proof-of-Work consensus, requiring miners to solve computationally expensive puzzles consuming ~150 TWh annually. Ethereum switched to Proof-of-Stake in September 2022, where validators are chosen based on staked coins rather than computational power. This reduces energy consumption by 99.95%—from ~260 TWh to just 0.07 TWh annually. This makes Ethereum vastly more environmentally sustainable despite higher transaction volume.
    language: en-US
main entity: What happens when all 21 million Bitcoin are mined?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Bitcoin mining will be complete around 2140. After that, miners will be incentivized only by transaction fees rather than block rewards. This fixed supply contrasts with Ethereum's unlimited supply—Ethereum currently mints ~0.55M coins annually through staking rewards, creating ongoing inflation. Bitcoin's scarcity is considered its primary value proposition, while Ethereum's inflation is offset by application utility.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has lower transaction fees?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Bitcoin and Ethereum fees fluctuate based on network congestion and demand. As of 2026, Ethereum's average fee is ~$2-8 for standard transactions, while Bitcoin averages ~$1-5. However, during peak congestion, Ethereum fees can spike to $50+. Bitcoin's slower throughput (300K tx/day vs Ethereum's 1.2M) means fewer competing transactions but longer confirmation times (10 min vs 12 sec). Layer 2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism reduce Ethereum fees to cents.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Bitcoin and Ethereum
type: HowTo
description: Bitcoin is a pure digital currency designed for peer-to-peer transactions with fixed supply, while Ethereum is a programmable blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications with dynamic supply. Bitcoin has 10x larger market cap ($1.3T vs $130B as of 2026), but Ethereum processes more daily transactions and hosts a vastly larger ecosystem of DeFi and NFT applications.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Primary Purpose
step: Consider: Market Capitalization (2026)
step: Consider: Daily Transaction Volume
step: Consider: Block Time
step: Consider: Maximum Supply
step: Consider: Smart Contract Capability
step: Consider: DeFi Applications Hosted
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Bitcoin if you want a deflationary store of value with maximum security, proven 16-year track record, and protection against inflation—ideal for long-term wealth preservation. Choose Ethereum if you need a programmable platform for building decentralized applications, want faster transactions, or seek exposure to the rapidly growing DeFi and Web3 ecosystem.

Consider: Primary Purpose
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Primary Purpose: Bitcoin has Digital currency and store of value, while Ethereum has Programmable blockchain platform with smart contracts.

Consider: Market Capitalization (2026)
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Market Capitalization (2026): Bitcoin has $1.3 trillion, while Ethereum has $130 billion.

Consider: Daily Transaction Volume
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Daily Transaction Volume: Bitcoin has ~300,000 transactions/day, while Ethereum has ~1.2 million transactions/day.

Consider: Block Time
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Block Time: Bitcoin has ~10 minutes, while Ethereum has ~12 seconds.

Consider: Maximum Supply
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Maximum Supply: Bitcoin has 21 million coins (capped), while Ethereum has Unlimited supply.

Consider: Smart Contract Capability
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Smart Contract Capability: Bitcoin has Limited (Taproot only), while Ethereum has Full Turing-complete programming.

Consider: DeFi Applications Hosted
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: DeFi Applications Hosted: Bitcoin has ~50 protocols, while Ethereum has ~3,000+ protocols.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Bitcoin vs Ethereum
review body: Bitcoin is a pure digital currency designed for peer-to-peer transactions with fixed supply, while Ethereum is a programmable blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications with dynamic supply. Bitcoin has 10x larger market cap ($1.3T vs $130B as of 2026), but Ethereum processes more daily transactions and hosts a vastly larger ecosystem of DeFi and NFT applications.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Bitcoin vs Ethereum

Minimum Investment (via ETF/Fund)
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: $1 (fractional shares) | Ethereum: N/A

Correlation to S&P 500
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: ~0.25 | Ethereum: N/A

Trading Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: 168 (24/7) | Ethereum: N/A

Transaction Speed (Real-World TPS)
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 15–20 TPS

Network Validators
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 900,000+

Average Transaction Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: $0.10–1.00

Smart Contract Market Dominance
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 70%

Global DEX Volume Share
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: ~50%

Theoretical Maximum TPS
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: Variable (Layer 2 dependent)

Consensus Protocol Upgrade Timeline
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: Strawmap roadmap 2026

Mainnet Smart Contracts Deployed
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 5,000+ dApps

Total Value Locked (TVL)
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: $60.2 billion

Average Gas Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: $12 (average)

Transaction Throughput
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 22 TPS (base layer)

Number of Active Validators
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 600,000+

Launch Date
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: July 30, 2015

Daily Transaction Volume
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 1,200,000

Energy per Transaction
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 0.0026

DeFi Total Value Locked
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: $98 billion

Active Developer Count
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 4,200+

Transaction Finality Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 12-15

Smart Contract Languages
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: Solidity, Vyper, Yul

Total Value Locked
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: $48.3 billion

Block Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 12

Monthly Active Developers
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 3,200+

DeFi Protocols
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 2,400+

Parachain/Shard Count
type: PropertyValue
value: Bitcoin: N/A | Ethereum: 1 (beacon chain + rollups)

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
xpath: //*[@id='verdict']

Bitcoin — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Ethereum — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Bitcoin vs Ethereum
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bitcoin-vs-ethereum))
object: Bitcoin
object: Ethereum

Total Value Locked (TVL)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem Size

Average Gas Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost Efficiency

Transaction Throughput
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Number of Active Validators
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Decentralization

Launch Date
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Timeline

Daily Transaction Volume
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Network Activity

Energy per Transaction
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Sustainability

DeFi Total Value Locked
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem Strength

Active Developer Count
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development Community

Transaction Finality Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Smart Contract Languages
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Tools

Total Value Locked
type: PropertyValue
value reference: DeFi Adoption

Block Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Monthly Active Developers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

DeFi Protocols
type: PropertyValue
value reference: DeFi Adoption

Parachain/Shard Count
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability