vs
Bitcoin vs Ethereum
| Feature | Bitcoin | Ethereum |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | Jan 3, 2009 | Jul 30, 2015 |
| Consensus | Proof of work (SHA-256) | Proof of stake (since Sep 15, 2022) |
| Supply | Capped at 21 million | No fixed cap; base fees burned since Aug 2021 |
| Block or slot time | About 10 minutes | 12 seconds |
| Smart contracts | Limited scripting | Full smart contracts (EVM) |
| Scaling path | Lightning and other layers | Layer 2 rollups, blobs since Mar 2024 |
| Latest close in our data | $82,724 Bitstamp BTC/USD daily close, 2026-10-14 | $2,474 Coinbase Exchange ETH/USD daily close, 2026-10-14 |
The trade-offs
Bitcoin and Ethereum are often compared, but they aim at different things. Bitcoin keeps its base layer simple and slow to change, prioritizing a predictable supply and security through mining. Ethereum treats its chain as a computer anyone can program, and it has changed its rules much more often, including the switch to proof of stake.
The trade-off is simplicity versus flexibility. Bitcoin's narrow design leaves less room for bugs like the 2016 DAO hack. Ethereum's flexibility made DeFi, NFTs and stablecoins possible, and it changes faster through named upgrades.
Neither column is a recommendation. Each network makes different choices, and the history pages show how those choices played out.
Source: Bitstamp BTC/USD daily closes 2011-08-18 to 2026-10-14. Fetched Oct 14, 2026 from free public APIs. Click a dot for the event and its price on that day.
Source: Coinbase Exchange ETH/USD daily closes 2016-05-18 to 2026-10-14. Fetched Oct 14, 2026 from free public APIs. Click a dot for the event and its price on that day.
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Sources
Facts written in our own words. Last checked Oct 14, 2026.