Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are arguably the two most popular cryptocurrencies, which have contributed significantly to the sector’s success. Therefore, this makes them similar in many ways, as each is a digital currency, that is traded and stored in different types of cryptocurrency wallets. Additionally, both of these tokens are decentralized, meaning that they aren’t regulated or issued by a central bank or other authorities. However, while Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency to be created and is considered ‘digital gold’, Ethereum can be viewed as a decentralized computer for the world. Today we’ll take a look at the two most popular cryptocurrencies and analyze the most crucial distinctions between them.
What Is A Cryptocurrency
Firstly, cryptocurrency is a term that is used to identify a newly emerging asset class. Essentially, it is a digital or virtual currency, which is secured by cryptography. As a result, this makes it impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized networks, based on blockchain technology, which is a distributed public ledger, that facilitates the process of recording transactions and tracking assets. To use cryptocurrencies, you’ll need a cryptocurrency wallet, which can be a cloud-based service or stored on your computer or mobile device. These wallets allow you to store your encryption keys, which verify your identity and link to your cryptocurrency.
What Is Bitcoin
Bitcoin was the world’s first decentralized cryptocurrency, which has revolutionized the way we invest, bank, and use money. Investing or trading Bitcoin involves creating an account at a service or a platform, such as Paxful, where you can find out how to buy Bitcoin with a debit card and perform Bitcoin transactions. Apart from learning how to buy Bitcoin with a debit card and other payment methods, you’ll need to choose a Bitcoin wallet from a range of options. These include hot wallets, which are connected to the Internet, and cold wallets, which are paper or hardware wallets.
What Is Ethereum
Blockchain technology has been used to go beyond enabling a virtual currency. In 2015, Ethereum was launched, which is the largest and most well-established decentralized software platform. Ethereum makes the deployment of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) possible. As a result, they’re built and run without any downtime, control, fraud, or interference from a third party. Moreover, Ethereum features its own programming language, called Solidity that runs on a blockchain, allowing developers to create and operate distributed applications. The potentials of Ethereum are wide-ranging, thanks to its native cryptographic token, known as ether or ETH.
What Are The Key Differences
Although both the Bitcoin and Ethereum networks are powered by the principles of distributed ledgers and encryption, the two differ vastly in terms of technical specifications. For example, while Bitcoin is considered the digital equivalent of gold, Ethereum is used to enable the Ethereum network and its applications. Other distinctions include block time, as an ether transaction is confirmed within seconds, while a Bitcoin transaction takes several minutes. More importantly, Bitcoin and Ethereum are different when it comes to their overall aims. While Bitcoin was launched as an alternative to national currencies, Ethereum was intended as a platform to facilitate programmatic contracts and applications via its own currency.
