$BTC Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are two distinct cryptocurrencies with different purposes and characteristics.

Key Differences:

Purpose:

Bitcoin: Primarily used as a digital store of value and medium of exchange, often referred to as "digital gold."

Ethereum: A decentralized platform for building and executing smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps).

Consensus Mechanism:

Bitcoin: Uses Proof of Work (PoW), which requires miners to solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate transactions and secure the network.

Ethereum: Transitioned from PoW to Proof of Stake (PoS) in "The Merge" upgrade, reducing energy consumption and promoting a more efficient approach to securing the network.

Supply:

Bitcoin: Has a fixed supply of 21 million BTC.

Ethereum: Has a dynamic supply, which has been decreasing at a rate of 0.29% per year since the Merge upgrade.

Market Performance:

Bitcoin: Recently surged past $73,000, potentially signaling a new phase of price discovery.

Ethereum: Struggled to revisit its peak, but shows potential for growth with upcoming upgrades like Danksharding.

Comparison of Key Metrics:

Market Capitalization:

Bitcoin: Around $1.27 trillion

Ethereum: Approximately $400 billion

Price:

Bitcoin: ₹ 92,49,313 (Indian Rupees)

Ethereum: ₹ 2,15,292 (Indian Rupees)

Transaction Fees:

Bitcoin: Higher transaction fees due to increased load on the network

Ethereum: Lower transaction fees compared to Bitcoin

Investment Potential:

Both Bitcoin and Ethereum have investment potential, but they cater to different investment strategies. Bitcoin is often seen as a store of value, while Ethereum's potential lies in its decentralized applications and upcoming upgrades. Investors can consider strategies like dollar-cost averaging, investing in ETFs and futures, or participating in DeFi.