Bitcoin vs Ethereum
Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) side by side: what each is for, how each network works, and the live numbers. Neutral, no ranking, no advice.
At a glance
| Bitcoin | Ethereum | |
|---|---|---|
| Ticker | BTC | ETH |
| Launched | 2009 | 2015 |
| How it runs | Proof of work | Proof of stake (since 2022) |
| 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 programmable blockchain for smart contracts and decentralized apps. It moved from mining to proof of stake in September 2022; ETH pays the network's fees. |
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
Ask Coach to compare them
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Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum?
Bitcoin: The first cryptocurrency: a peer-to-peer payment network secured by proof of work, with a hard cap of 21 million coins. Ethereum: A programmable blockchain for smart contracts and decentralized apps. It moved from mining to proof of stake in September 2022; ETH pays the network's fees.
Which is bigger, Bitcoin or Ethereum?
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 Ethereum 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 · Ethereum. Market data: CoinGecko. Educational information only — not investment, legal, tax or financial advice.