Just like dollars and euro are the two most popular fiats in circulation, Bitcoin and Ethereum are the two most popular Blockchain based platforms currently in use.

In this post, you’ll see the basic differences between the two platforms.

First, it is important to say that Bitcoin (with upper case B) is taken as the Gold Standard of blockchain and it’s the most popular platform using the Blockchain technology.

It’s main purpose is to allow the transaction of the cryptocurrency, bitcoin (with lower case, B), which is it’s native asset.

Then, Ethereum much more than just a platform for focused on cryptocurrency transactions. It is a utility-based blockchain platform, that allows other decentralized activities to be carried out in it including smart contract, creations of dApps…

Their Differences

  • “bitcoin” (cryptocurrency) is the asset of Bitcoin platform while ether is the primary asset of Ethereum.
  • Bitcoin is simple and robust while Ethereum is complex and feature-rich making it possible for more processes to be carried out on it.
  • The Bitcoin platform is stack-based, uses primitive scripting language, not turing-complete (meaning the applications that can be done in the platform are limited) while Ethereum is turing-complete, uses scripting language making it suitable to accept alot of applications.
  • Bitcoin is UTXO based while Ethereum is account based.
  • Bitcoin is based on Proof-of-Work while Ethereum is moving towards Proof-of-Stake.
  • Block creation time is 10mins in Bitcoin while in Ethereum it’s 15secs.
  • Proof of work algorithm for Bitcoin is SHA-256 while Ethereum is Ethash.