Bitcoin vs Ethereum: Which one is more likely to make you a millionaire?
Despite being the two largest cryptocurrencies in the world, the paths of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) were completely different in 2025. As of July 17, the value of Bitcoin had risen by more than 26%, while the value of Ethereum had risen by less than 2%. This poses a tough question for investors: Should they buy the currency that has just reached its all-time high or buy the currency that has dropped to its lowest levels?
Bitcoin: Digital gold and a safe haven
Bitcoin has seen a strong rise since President Donald Trump's victory in the elections last November. Trump has clearly stated his pro-cryptocurrency stance during his campaign and has maintained it since taking office. Trump's affiliated organizations have engaged deeply in the cryptocurrency market, and his government has included a number of cryptocurrency-friendly advisors and officials, including the SEC, which has taken a more flexible approach than the previous administration.
Many prominent lawsuits filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against major cryptocurrency companies have been dismissed or settled. At the same time, a range of regulatory regulations that previously hindered growth have been lifted, paving the way for traditional finance to increase its involvement in the market: starting from offering custody services, expanding cryptocurrency trading on major brokerage platforms, to financial institutions actively buying.
Bitcoin, as the most popular cryptocurrency, has become the primary destination for this new influx of capital. In particular, President Trump's announcement of the establishment of the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which will hold and buy more government reserves, has increased expectations regarding the value of this asset in the long term.
Moreover, with U.S. public debt surpassing $36.5 trillion, along with growing concerns about inflation and geopolitical instability, Bitcoin is increasingly seen as "digital gold" - a safe-haven asset with a limited supply of only 21 million Bitcoins (more than 19.9 million Bitcoins have been mined).
Ethereum: The future of decentralized finance, but it faces challenges
While Bitcoin has followed the path of digital gold, Ethereum is the cradle of smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). Many popular tokens, like Shiba Inu, are built on the Ethereum network, which is considered the virtual network for cryptocurrency developers.
In response to criticisms of the high energy consumption of Proof of Work (PoW) systems, Ethereum transitioned to a Proof of Stake (PoS) model in a comprehensive renewal process that lasted for years. Instead of mining, investors can now stake Ethereum to earn interest. This has led some experts - like Cathie Wood - to compare Ethereum to government bonds in terms of profitability and stability.
However, Ethereum faces significant challenges. The first is network congestion, leading to high transaction fees and slow speeds. The second is fierce competition from next-generation blockchains, like Solana, which offer faster speeds and lower costs. Additionally, the underperformance of Ethereum and tech stocks puts it at risk of rising interest rates and global instability.
However, there are still positive aspects for Ethereum. Major companies have started adopting a strategy of holding Ethereum in treasury bonds, similar to what Michael Saylor did with Bitcoin. Additionally, the successful listing of Circle, the issuer of USDC, enhances Ethereum's position, as leading stablecoins like USDT and USDC primarily operate on the ETH network.
Bitcoin or Ethereum: Which one will make you a millionaire?
If I were given the choice between just two options, Bitcoin would still be the preferred choice. The reason is:
Bitcoin has reached a level of widespread acceptance that has almost become the norm in the cryptocurrency market.
Bitcoin can serve as a diversification factor for an investment portfolio, especially during times of global financial turmoil.
Major financial institutions like BlackRock have publicly called for allocating 2% of their portfolio to BTC, which could help Bitcoin become a popular investment in traditional investment portfolios.
Ethereum remains highly attractive with its vision of Web3, DeFi, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and stablecoin markets, but it has not yet reached the level of "safe haven" like Bitcoin.
Conclude
Both Bitcoin and Ethereum are worthy options to consider for long-term investments. But if you are looking for a "millionaire maker" - an asset with the potential to deliver huge returns and retain its value over time - Bitcoin still remains the better choice under current circumstances.
