Decentralized digital cryptocurrency with fixed 21 million coin supply.
Store of value and institutional investment
Decentralized smart contract platform with 70% DeFi market dominance and 900,000+ validators.
Blockchain applications and DeFi
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 for store of value and simplicity. Ethereum for blockchain applications and programmability. Both are essential to crypto.
Choose Bitcoin if
Store of value and institutional investment
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| Metric | Bitcoin | Ethereum | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap(USD) | $1.3 Trillion | $400 Billion | +225% |
| Current Price Level(USD) | Below $100,000 | — | — |
| Historical Track Record(years) | 16 years | — | — |
| Transaction Speed(minutes) | 10 minutes (block time) |
Bitcoin vs Gold
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Choose Ethereum if
Blockchain applications and DeFi
| — |
| — |
| 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% | — | — |
| 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 | — |
| Market Capitalization(USD billions) | $230 billion | $230 billion | — |
| Smart Contract Market Dominance(%) | 70% | 70% | — |
| Global DEX Volume Share(%) | ~50% | ~50% | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated May 2026.
Bitcoin
$1.3T🏆
Ethereum
$400B
Bitcoin
21M🏆
Ethereum
Unlimited
Bitcoin
Limited
Ethereum
Full Support🏆
Bitcoin
PoW (High)
Ethereum
PoS (Low)🏆
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.
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| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap(USD) | $1.3 Trillion | $400 Billion |
| Consensus Mechanism | Proof of Work | Proof of Stake |
| 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) | — |
| Regulatory Acceptance(global jurisdictions) | Uncertain, varies by country | — |
| 2026 Price Performance YTD(percent) | -35% (estimated) | — |
| Transaction Speed (Real-World TPS)(TPS) | 15–20 TPS | — |
| Annual Volatility (Implied)(percent) | 60-80% | — |
| 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) | — |
| Network Validators(count) | 900,000+ | — |
| Average Transaction Cost(USD) | $0.10–1.00 | — |
| Market Capitalization(USD billions) | $230 billion | — |
| 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 | — |
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes