Comparing Bitcoin (BTC) to Ethereum (ETH) involves looking at their current prices, market performance, and key differences. As of July 21, 2025, based on available data:
### Price Comparison
- Bitcoin (BTC): Approximately $118,124.73, with a market cap of $2.35 trillion.[](https://www.bitget.com/marketcap/ethereum/bitcoin)
- Ethereum (ETH): Approximately $3,554.81, with a market cap of $429.11 billion.[](https://www.bitget.com/marketcap/ethereum/bitcoin)
- ETH/BTC Ratio: This ratio, which shows how much BTC is needed to buy one ETH, is a key indicator. Currently, it’s around 0.0301 (derived from dividing ETH price by BTC price: $3,554.81 / $118,124.73). Historically, this ratio has fluctuated, with recent posts on X suggesting ETH is testing significant resistance levels against BTC, potentially signaling an upcoming outperformance if it breaks through (e.g., 0.028 BTC resistance).
### Recent Performance
- Bitcoin: Up ~16% from April 2024 to March 2025, showing resilience post-halving. It has a higher Sharpe Ratio (1.58 vs. ETH’s 0.03), indicating better risk-adjusted returns, and lower volatility (8.48% vs. ETH’s 18.49%).[](https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/digital-assets/bitcoin-vs-ethereum/)[](https://portfolioslab.com/tools/stock-comparison/BTC-USD/ETH-USD)
- Ethereum: Dropped ~50% over the same period but surged over 50% in the past week, driven by upgrades like Pectra. ETH recently flipped BTC in 24-hour futures volume ($62.1B vs. $61.7B), suggesting growing trader interest.[](https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/digital-assets/bitcoin-vs-ethereum/)
- Correlation: The correlation between BTC and ETH is low (0.19), meaning their price movements aren’t closely tied, allowing for diversification.[](https://portfolioslab.com/tools/stock-comparison/BTC-USD/ETH-USD)
### Key Differences
- Purpose:
- Bitcoin: Designed as a decentralized digital currency and store of value, often called “digital gold.” It prioritizes security and simplicity with a fixed supply of 21 million coins.[](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031416/bitcoin-vs-ethereum-driven-different-purposes.asp)[](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-are-the-differences-between-bitcoin-and-ethereum)
- Ethereum: A platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), with ETH as its native currency to pay for transactions and computational services. It’s more versatile but faces scalability challenges.[](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031416/bitcoin-vs-ethereum-driven-different-purposes.asp)[](https://messari.io/compare/bitcoin-vs-ethereum)
- Consensus Mechanism:
- Bitcoin: Uses Proof-of-Work (PoW), which is energy-intensive but highly secure.[](https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/digital-assets/bitcoin-vs-ethereum/)
- Ethereum: Transitioned to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) with the 2022 Merge, reducing energy use by 99% and enabling scalability improvements.[](https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/digital-assets/bitcoin-vs-ethereum/)[](https://99bitcoins.com/guides-and-tutorials/bitcoin-vs-ethereum/)
- Transaction Speed and Fees:
- Bitcoin: Slower, with blocks every ~10 minutes and higher fees during congestion.[](https://www.tokenmetrics.com/blog/bitcoin-vs-ethereum)[](https://crypto.com/en/bitcoin/bitcoin-vs-ethereum-whats-the-difference-between-btc-and-eth)
- Ethereum: Faster, with blocks every ~12 seconds, and generally lower fees, though volatile during high network activity.[](https://www.tokenmetrics.com/blog/bitcoin-vs-ethereum)[](https://crypto.com/en/bitcoin/bitcoin-vs-ethereum-whats-the-difference-between-btc-and-eth)
- Supply:
- Bitcoin: Capped at 21 million, inherently deflationary.[](https://money.usnews.com/investing/cryptocurrency/articles/bitcoin-vs-ethereum-which-is-a-better-buy)
- Ethereum: No fixed cap, but mechanisms like EIP-1559 burn fees, making it deflationary at times (e.g., -0.29% annual supply reduction as of May 2023).[](https://www.longtermtrends.net/ethereum-vs-bitcoin/)[](https://99bitcoins.com/guides-and-tutorials/bitcoin-vs-ethereum/)
### Market Sentiment
- Bitcoin: Dominates with a ~64% market share (June 2025), bolstered by spot BTC ETF approvals and its role as a hedge against inflation.[](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/031416/bitcoin-vs-ethereum-driven-different-purposes.asp)[](https://www.vaneck.com/us/en/blogs/digital-assets/bitcoin-vs-ethereum/)
- Ethereum: Gaining traction with spot ETH ETFs (July 2024) and upgrades like Pectra (May 2025), enhancing staking and scalability. Recent X posts highlight ETH’s potential to outperform BTC if it breaks key resistance levels (e.g., 0.028-0.04 BTC).[](https://money.usnews.com/investing/cryptocurrency/articles/bitcoin-vs-ethereum-which-is-a-better-buy)
### Which Is Better?
- Bitcoin: Suits investors seeking stability, scarcity, and a store of value. Its lower volatility and higher market cap make it a safer bet for conservative portfolios.[](https://portfolioslab.com/tools/stock-comparison/BTC-USD/ETH-USD)[](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-are-the-differences-between-bitcoin-and-ethereum)
- Ethereum: Appeals to those interested in growth and innovation due to its role in DeFi, NFTs, and dApps. Its higher volatility offers potential for larger gains but with greater risk.[](https://portfolioslab.com/tools/stock-comparison/BTC-USD/ETH-USD)[](https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ethereum-to-bitcoin-ratio-over-time/)
- Diversification: Many investors hold both, as they serve complementary purposes—BTC for value preservation, ETH for exposure to Web3 and dApps.[](https://www.coinbase.com/learn/crypto-basics/what-are-the-differences-between-bitcoin-and-ethereum)[](https://99bitcoins.com/guides-and-tutorials/bitcoin-vs-ethereum/)
### Outlook
- Bitcoin: Future price depends on global adoption and halving cycles. VanEck’s 2050 projections range from $130,314 to $52.4M based on integration into global trade.[](https://99bitcoins.com/guides-and-tutorials/bitcoin-vs-ethereum/)
- Ethereum: Tied to dApp growth and network upgrades. A low ETH/BTC ratio (currently near 2020 levels) historically preceded ETH rallies (e.g., 120% in two months post-2022 lows).[](https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ethereum-to-bitcoin-ratio-over-time/)
For real-time price tracking, platforms like TradingView or Bitget offer live ETH/BTC charts. Always consider market risks, as both assets are volatile. If you’d like a chart or deeper analysis on a specific aspect (e.g., technical indicators, historical trends), let me know[](https://www.bitget.com/marketcap/bitcoin/ethereum)