Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are the two largest cryptocurrencies, but they serve different primary purposes and have distinct technological foundations. Bitcoin, launched in 2009, is designed mainly as a decentralized digital currency and a store of value, often referred to as "digital gold," with a capped supply of 21 million coins and a focus on security and simplicity. Ethereum, introduced in 2015, is a programmable blockchain that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), making it the backbone of the DeFi and NFT ecosystems; it transitioned from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake for greater scalability and energy efficiency, and it does not have a fixed supply cap. While Bitcoin is primarily used for peer-to-peer transactions and as a hedge against inflation, Ethereum powers a wide range of blockchain-based innovations and financial services.
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