Bitcoin (BTC) is a decentralized digital currency launched in 2009, primarily serving as a store of value and medium of exchange. It operates on a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism and has a fixed supply cap of 21 million coins.
Ethereum (ETH), introduced in 2015, is a decentralized platform enabling smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). It transitioned from PoW to Proof of Stake (PoS) with Ethereum 2.0, aiming for enhanced scalability and energy efficiency. Ethereum's native currency, Ether, fuels these operations and has no fixed supply cap.
In summary, Bitcoin focuses on secure, decentralized value transfer, while Ethereum provides a platform for programmable applications and smart contracts.