Bitcoin vs Ethereum: Complete Comparison (2026) | Comparison
Bitcoin is the original cryptocurrency, a store of value ('digital gold') with a $1.3T market cap. Ethereum is a programmable blockchain platform for smart contracts, DeFi, and NFTs with a $400B market cap.
Bitcoin
Decentralized digital cryptocurrency and store of value launched in 2009
Store of value and institutional investment
Ethereum
Leading smart contract blockchain with 10,000+ dApps and $2.4T market cap
Blockchain applications and DeFi
Quick Answer
AI SummaryBitcoin is the original cryptocurrency, a store of value ('digital gold') with a $1.3T market cap. Ethereum is a programmable blockchain platform for smart contracts, DeFi, and NFTs with a $400B market cap.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedBitcoin for store of value and simplicity. Ethereum for blockchain applications and programmability. Both are essential to crypto.
Was this verdict helpful?
TIE — neck and neck
Choose Bitcoin if
Store of value and institutional investment
Choose Ethereum if
Blockchain applications and DeFi
Track this comparison
Get notified when prices change, new specs ship, or our verdict updates.
Triggers: price change new spec verdict update
No spam. Stop anytime.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Market Cap:✓ Bitcoin wins($1.3T vs $400B)
- Max Supply:✓ Bitcoin wins(21M vs Unlimited)
- Smart Contracts:✓ Ethereum wins(Full Support vs Limited)
Key Facts & Figures
36 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Bitcoin | Ethereum | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap(USD) | $1.3 Trillion | $400 Billion | |
| Current Price Level(USD) | Below $100,000 | — | — |
| Historical Track Record(years) | 16 years | — | — |
| Transaction Speed(minutes) | 10 minutes (block time) | — | — |
| Storage & Custody Costs(percent per annum) | 0.1-0.5% (digital custody) | — | — |
| 2026 Price Performance YTD(percent) | -35% (estimated) | — | — |
| Annual Volatility (Implied)(percent) | 60-80% | — | — |
| Market Capitalization(USD trillions) | $97 billion | $230 billion | |
| Annual Energy Consumption(TWh per year) | ~150 TWh | — | — |
| Transactions Per Second(TPS) | 7 TPS | — | — |
| Average Transaction Fee(USD) | $5-30 USD | — | — |
| Network Age / Proven Security(years) | 15+ years since 2009 | — | — |
| Maximum Supply Cap(million coins) | 21 million (fixed) | — | — |
| Daily Trading Volume(USD billions) | $40 billion | — | — |
| Average Block Time(seconds) | 600 seconds (~10 minutes) | — | — |
| Time Since Launch(years) | 15 years (2009) | — | — |
| Circulating Supply(millions of coins) | 21 million BTC (20.5M circulating) | — | — |
| Consensus Mechanism Energy Efficiency(kWh per transaction) | ~1,500 kWh | — | — |
| 10-Year Annualized Return (2014-2024)(%) | ~65% | — | — |
| Annual Volatility(%) | 70-80% | — | — |
| Worst Single-Year Loss(%) | -65% (2022) | — | — |
| Dividend Yield(%) | 0% | — | — |
| Market Cap / Total Value(USD Trillion) | $2.0 trillion | — | — |
| Correlation with Stocks (S&P 500)(correlation coefficient) | 0.25 | — | — |
| Number of Constituents / Diversification(count) | 1 (single asset) | — | — |
| Transaction Speed (Real-World TPS)(TPS) | 15–20 TPS | 15–20 TPS | |
| Network Validators(count) | 900,000+ | 900,000+ | |
| Average Transaction Cost(USD) | $0.10–1.00 | $0.10–1.00 | |
| Smart Contract Market Dominance(%) | 70% | 70% | |
| Global DEX Volume Share(%) | ~50% | ~50% | |
| Mainnet Smart Contracts Deployed(count) | 5,000+ dApps | 5,000+ dApps | |
| Total Value Locked (TVL)(USD billion) | $60.2 billion | $60.2 billion | |
| Average Gas Fee(USD) | $12 (average) | $12 (average) | |
| Transaction Throughput(transactions per second) | 22 TPS (base layer) | 22 TPS (base layer) | |
| Block Time(seconds) | 12-15 seconds | 12-15 seconds | |
| Number of Active Validators(count) | 600,000+ | 600,000+ |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
4 attributes compared head-to-head
- $1.3T(winner)Market Cap$400B
- 21M(winner)Max SupplyUnlimited
- LimitedSmart ContractsFull Support(winner)
- PoW (High)Energy EfficiencyPoS (Low)(winner)
- Market Cap
Bitcoin
$1.3T(winner)
Ethereum
$400B
- Max Supply
Bitcoin
21M(winner)
Ethereum
Unlimited
- Smart Contracts
Bitcoin
Limited
Ethereum
Full Support(winner)
- Energy Efficiency
Bitcoin
PoW (High)
Ethereum
PoS (Low)(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Bitcoin | Ethereum |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap(USD) | $1.3 Trillion(winner) | $400 Billion |
| Current Price Level(USD) | Below $100,000 | — |
| Institutional Ownership Trend(adoption level) | Growing but cautious due to 2026 volatility | — |
| Historical Track Record(years) | 16 years | — |
| Transaction Speed(minutes) | 10 minutes (block time) | — |
| Storage & Custody Costs(percent per annum) | 0.1-0.5% (digital custody) | — |
| Average Transaction Fee(USD) | $5-30 USD | — |
| Maximum Supply Cap(million coins) | 21 million (fixed) | — |
| Regulatory Acceptance(global jurisdictions) | Uncertain, varies by country | — |
| Regulatory Framework Maturity(text) | Evolving, inconsistent globally | — |
| 2026 Price Performance YTD(percent) | -35% (estimated) | — |
| Transactions Per Second(TPS) | 7 TPS | — |
| 10-Year Annualized Return (2014-2024)(%) | ~65% | — |
| Transaction Speed (Real-World TPS)(TPS) | 15–20 TPS | — |
| Transaction Throughput(transactions per second) | 22 TPS (base layer) | — |
Show 1 more attributeBlock Time(seconds) 12-15 seconds — | ||
| Annual Volatility (Implied)(percent) | 60-80% | — |
| Annual Volatility(%) | 70-80% | — |
| Worst Single-Year Loss(%) | -65% (2022) | — |
| Maximum Supply(quantity) | 21 million coins (fixed) | — |
| Inflation Hedge Quality(correlation) | Theoretical, unproven long-term | — |
| Geopolitical Resilience(rating) | Improving but unproven in major crises | — |
| Accessibility to Retail Investors(ease level) | High (digital platforms, 24/7) | — |
| Market Capitalization(USD trillions) | $97 billion | $230 billion(winner) |
| Annual Energy Consumption(TWh per year) | ~150 TWh | — |
| Consensus Mechanism Energy Efficiency(kWh per transaction) | ~1,500 kWh | — |
| Network Age / Proven Security(years) | 15+ years since 2009 | — |
| Smart Contract Capability(programming model) | Limited (Layer 2 only) | — |
| Consensus Mechanism | Proof of Work (PoW) | Proof-of-Stake (PoS) |
| Daily Trading Volume(USD billions) | $40 billion | — |
| Average Block Time(seconds) | 600 seconds (~10 minutes) | — |
| Time Since Launch(years) | 15 years (2009) | — |
| Circulating Supply(millions of coins) | 21 million BTC (20.5M circulating) | — |
| Dividend Yield(%) | 0% | — |
| Market Cap / Total Value(USD Trillion) | $2.0 trillion | — |
| Correlation with Stocks (S&P 500)(correlation coefficient) | 0.25 | — |
| Number of Constituents / Diversification(count) | 1 (single asset) | — |
| Network Validators(count) | 900,000+ | — |
| Number of Active Validators(count) | 600,000+ | — |
| Average Transaction Cost(USD) | $0.10–1.00 | — |
| Average Gas Fee(USD) | $12 (average) | — |
| Smart Contract Market Dominance(%) | 70% | — |
| Global DEX Volume Share(%) | ~50% | — |
| Theoretical Maximum TPS(TPS) | Variable (Layer 2 dependent) | — |
| Consensus Protocol Upgrade Timeline(year) | Strawmap roadmap 2026 | — |
| Mainnet Smart Contracts Deployed(count) | 5,000+ dApps | — |
| Total Value Locked (TVL)(USD billion) | $60.2 billion | — |
| Launch Date | July 30, 2015 | — |
BitcoinEthereumShow 1 more attribute
Pros & Cons
8 pros·6 cons across both
Bitcoin
Pros
- First cryptocurrency
- Largest market cap
- Most secure network
- Institutional adoption
Cons
- Slow transactions
- High energy use (PoW)
- Limited programmability
Ethereum
Pros
- Smart contracts
- DeFi ecosystem
- Proof of Stake (energy efficient)
- Programmable
Cons
- Higher gas fees
- More complex
- Smaller market cap
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questions
Bitcoin is considered the safer crypto investment (like digital gold). Ethereum has more upside potential due to its smart contract ecosystem but also more risk.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Learn more about our affiliate disclosure
Wikipedia
- W
Bitcoin on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Decentralized digital cryptocurrency and store of value launched in 2009
- W
Ethereum on Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Leading smart contract blockchain with 10,000+ dApps and $2.4T market cap
- W
Cryptocurrency (opens in new tab)
The relationship and history between these two
Related Articles
Related Comparisons
12 more to explore
US Economy vs China Economy
Ethereum vs Solana
financeEthereum vs Polkadot
financeEthereum vs Cardano
financeBitcoin vs Cardano
financeBitcoin vs Cardano
financeBitcoin vs S&P 500
financeStock Market vs Real Estate
economyUSA vs China
countriesNetflix vs Disney+
companiesChina vs USA Economy 2026
economyChina vs USA Economy 2026
economy
Explore More
Related comparisons and categories