Bitcoin vs Bitcoin Cash
Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) side by side: what each is for, how each network works, and the live numbers. Neutral, no ranking, no advice.
At a glance
| Bitcoin | Bitcoin Cash | |
|---|---|---|
| Ticker | BTC | BCH |
| Launched | 2009 | 2017 |
| How it runs | Proof of work | Proof of work |
| What it is | The first cryptocurrency: a peer-to-peer payment network secured by proof of work, with a hard cap of 21 million coins. | A 2017 fork of Bitcoin that raised the block size so more transactions fit in each block. Proof of work, capped at 21 million BCH. |
Live comparison
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The last 12 months, both starting at 100
Each line starts at 100 on the same day, so you can see which moved more, up or down, regardless of the price per coin.
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Past performance says nothing about future returns.
How to read this comparison
Size: compare market cap, not the price of one coin. A coin at $0.10 can be worth more in total than one at $100, if far more units exist.
Supply: a maximum supply means no new coins beyond a fixed number; "no fixed cap" means new coins keep being created, which spreads the value over more units over time.
Risk: both can move fast. Smaller coins usually swing harder, which is what volatility measures. A big move in the chart is history, not a forecast.
Terms on this page
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Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash?
Bitcoin: The first cryptocurrency: a peer-to-peer payment network secured by proof of work, with a hard cap of 21 million coins. Bitcoin Cash: A 2017 fork of Bitcoin that raised the block size so more transactions fit in each block. Proof of work, capped at 21 million BCH.
Which is bigger, Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash?
Compare market capitalisation, not the price of one coin: market cap is the price multiplied by the circulating supply. The live table on this page shows both market caps and their current rank; the ratio changes every day.
Is Bitcoin or Bitcoin Cash a better investment?
That depends on what you need, and this page does not rank them. The two differ in purpose, design and risk, and both can lose a large part of their value. Past performance, including the chart above, does not predict future returns. This is not investment advice.
Other comparisons
Coin pages: Bitcoin · Bitcoin Cash. Market data: CoinGecko. Educational information only — not investment, legal, tax or financial advice.