Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are the top two cryptocurrencies, but they serve different purposes. BTC is primarily a "digital gold" and a store of value with a limited supply of 21 million coins, making it deflationary. BTC transactions are relatively slower, taking about 10 minutes per confirmation.
In contrast, ETH is a platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). ETH has a supply that is theoretically unlimited, but with the "burn" mechanism, it can be deflationary. ETH transactions are much faster, taking only seconds.
In investment, BTC is often considered a long-term asset and a hedge, whereas ETH offers growth potential from its ecosystem innovations (DeFi, NFT). Both have high volatility, and the best choice depends on your investment goals and risk tolerance.
