With the rise of interest in crypto assets, there has been much debate surrounding which one is better, Bitcoin or Ethereum. Both Bitcoin and Ethereum networks have their pros and cons, so it can be difficult to decide which is the better investment.
The History Of Bitcoin Blockchain Technology
Bitcoin is the world’s first cryptocurrency, and it was created in 2009 by an unknown person or group of people called Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin is a decentralized network of digital currencies, and it does not require a central bank or a single administrator. The Bitcoin Blockchain can be seen by everyone.
Bitcoin is often called a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system.” Transactions are recorded in a publicly distributed ledger called a blockchain, and they’re verified by network nodes through cryptography.
The History Of Ethereum Blockchain Technology
The Ethereum platform was created in 2014 by Vitalik Buterin, a young programmer who was tired of the limitations of the Bitcoin blockchain. He wanted to create a platform that would be more flexible and easier to develop, and he launched the project in 2015.
Ethereum also has its own programming language, which allows developers to build smart contracts. Smart contracts are self-executing contracts that can be used to automate transactions on the Ethereum network. This has led to the development of a number of decentralized exchanges built on Ethereum’s blockchain.
What Does Bitcoin Do, And Why Was It Created?
Bitcoin works as a decentralized digital currency that is not subject to government or financial institution control. Transactions are verified by a network of computers and recorded in a public ledger called a blockchain. Bitcoin can be bought, sold, or traded for other currencies, products, and services.
Bitcoin was created as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. The main goal of Bitcoin is to provide a way for people to send and receive money without the need for a third party, such as a bank or government.
Transactions are completed between two people directly, without the need for intermediaries. Bitcoin is unique in that there is a finite supply of 21 million coins that will ever be mined. This makes it similar to gold, which also has a limited supply.
What Does Ethereum Do, And Why Was It Created?
Ethereum runs smart contracts, which are applications that run exactly as programmed with zero possibility of fraud and third-party interferences. Ethereum has become very popular in the past few years because it allows developers to create all sorts of decentralized applications (dApps).
From financial applications to games and social networks, there’s an Ethereum dApp for just about everything. The flexibility of Ethereum comes from its scripting language, which allows developers to program their own smart contracts. This means they can build all sorts of applications on top of the Ethereum blockchain.
Price History Of Bitcoin Network
Since its inception in 2009, Bitcoin has been the leading cryptocurrency by market capitalization. Bitcoin has a limited supply of 21 million units and is not backed by any government or central authority. The value of Bitcoin is determined by supply and demand on exchanges where it is traded.
In early 2017, one Bitcoin was worth around $1,000, while one Ethereum was worth around $10. By December 2017, the price of Bitcoin had reached almost $20,000.
Price History Of Ethereum Network
In early 2018, Ethereum’s price was $1,000 per coin. By mid-2018, it had dropped to $200 per coin. As of 2019, Ethereum’s price was back up to around $700 per coin. On 20 October 2022, the price per coin was $1294.45.
The main reason for Ethereum’s volatility is its speculative nature. Their prices are based on supply and demand in the market. When there is more demand for cryptocurrency, the price goes up. When there is less demand, the price goes down.
Market Cap Of Bitcoin
As of June 2018, bitcoin’s market cap is around $376.75 billion. Bitcoin’s market dominance is around 52%. When it comes to cryptocurrency, market capitalization, better known as market cap, refers to the total amount of all the coins in circulation. So, for example, if there are 16.5 million bitcoins in circulation and each one is worth $9,000, then the market cap of bitcoin would be $149 billion.
Market Cap Of Ethereum
Ethereum’s market cap is roughly $160.40 billion. This difference can be attributed to a variety of factors, but it boils down to one simple thing:
This doesn’t mean that Ethereum isn’t a viable investment; on the contrary, its potential is tremendous. While Bitcoin has positioned itself as a digital gold (a store of value), Ethereum has become the go-to platform for blockchain applications. Hundreds of startups are building decentralized applications on Ethereum’s network, and its popularity is only increasing.
3 Main Similarities Between Bitcoin And Ethereum
- Both BTC and ETH are decentralized platforms, meaning they are not subject to government or financial institution control.
- Both BTC and ETH use blockchain technology to record and verify transactions.
- Both Bitcoin and Ethereum are digital assets and have a limited supply, which means there will only ever be a finite number of units in circulation.
3 Main Differences Between Bitcoin And Ethereum
- A major difference is that BTC is a cryptocurrency that uses a proof-of-work system, while ETH is a cryptocurrency that uses a proof-of-stake system. BTC also has a much longer history than ETH. It was created in 2009, while ETH was not created until 2015.
- BTC can only be used as a currency, while ETH can be used as both a currency and a platform for decentralized applications. This means that ETH has more utility than BTC.
- BTC has a maximum supply of 21 million coins, while ETH has no maximum supply. This could mean that ETH could potentially have more upside than BTC in the long run.
Risks Of Bitcoin
One of the biggest risks of Bitcoin is its price volatility. The price of Bitcoin has been known to fluctuate wildly, and this can make it difficult to use as a currency. If you want to buy something with Bitcoin, you need to be aware that the price could change dramatically between the time you make your purchase and the time you receive your goods or services.
This volatility can also lead to losses when investing in Bitcoin if you aren’t careful. Another risk of Bitcoin is its lack of regulation. Because it’s not regulated by any government or financial institution, there’s no guarantee that it will continue to exist in its current form. There’s also no way to recover your funds if you lose your private key or if an exchange goes out of business.
There’s the risk that Bitcoin could be used for illegal activities. Because it’s anonymous and decentralized, it can be used for money laundering or other criminal activities.
Risks Of Ethereum
One of the biggest risks associated with Ethereum is the fact that it is still a relatively new technology. While it has been around for a few years now, it is still not as widely adopted as Bitcoin. This means that there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding Ethereum and its future.
Another risk to consider is the fact that Ethereum is not backed by any government or central authority. This lack of backing could make it more volatile and susceptible to manipulation than other cryptocurrencies.
Finally, when dealing with cryptocurrency, you should always be aware of the potential for hacking and theft. While this is true of all cryptocurrencies, it is especially important to be aware of these risks when dealing with Ethereum because of its popularity among hackers and criminals.
Where Can You Buy Bitcoin?
The most popular place to buy Bitcoin is Coinbase. Coinbase allows you to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum, and Litecoin. You can also use Coinbase to buy goods and services with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
LocalBitcoins is good if you’re looking for a more anonymous way to buy Bitcoin. LocalBitcoins is a marketplace that allows you to buy and sell Bitcoin without having to go through an exchange.
If you want to mine Bitcoin yourself, you can do so by joining a mining pool. These pools are groups of miners that work together to mine Bitcoin. You can increase your chances of earning Bitcoin when you join a mining pool.
Where Can You Buy Ethereum?
The most popular way is to use an online exchange, such as Coinbase or Kraken. You can also purchase Ethereum through a traditional broker, such as TD Ameritrade or E-Trade. Finally, you can also mine Ethereum yourself if you have the necessary hardware and software.
Future Plans For Both Bitcoin And Ethereum
Bitcoin has a limited supply of 21 million BTC, which will be mined by 2040. The future plans for Bitcoin include increasing its scalability so that it can be used as a global payments network.
Ethereum plans to switch from a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus algorithm to a proof-of-stake (PoS) algorithm. This would make Ethereum more energy efficient and allow users to earn rewards for staking their ETH. Ethereum also plans on becoming more sustainable.
The Ethereum network is working on scaling solutions to increase its transaction throughput. One solution is sharding, which would split the Ethereum blockchain into multiple shards that can process transactions in parallel. Plasma is another scaling solution being worked on by the Ethereum Foundation.
References:
https://cointelegraph.com/ethereum-for-beginners/history-of-eth-the-rise-of-the-ethereum-blockchain