Bitcoin vs Ethereum: Complete 2026 Comparison
Compare Bitcoin and Ethereum side by side: live prices, market cap, trading volume, circulating supply and all-time highs. A neutral, data-driven overview to help you research both crypto assets.
Live Prices
Live Price
Live Price
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Bitcoin BTC | Ethereum ETH |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | ~$1.3T | ~$300B |
| 24h Volume | ~$28B | ~$15B |
| Circulating Supply | ~19.8M BTC | ~120M ETH |
| All-Time High | ~$108,000 | ~$4,878 |
Figures are approximate and for reference only. Always verify on a live data source.
About Bitcoin and Ethereum
Bitcoin BTC
Bitcoin (BTC) was created in January 2009 by an anonymous developer using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, after the publication of the seminal white paper "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System" in October 2008. With a fixed maximum supply of 21 million coins and a halving event every 210,000 blocks (~four years), Bitcoin pioneered the concept of provable digital scarcity. Today it is the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and is held by listed corporations like MicroStrategy, sovereign treasuries, and approved as the underlying asset of spot ETFs from BlackRock, Fidelity and others.
Learn moreEthereum ETH
Ethereum (ETH) was proposed in late 2013 by then 19-year-old Vitalik Buterin and went live on July 30, 2015 after a successful crowdfunding round in 2014. Unlike Bitcoin's focus on monetary settlement, Ethereum was built as a programmable smart-contract platform that lets developers deploy decentralized applications. ETH is the native asset used to pay for execution costs (gas) and to secure the network. By market cap, Ethereum is consistently the second-largest cryptocurrency and is the settlement layer for the majority of stablecoin volume, DeFi total value locked, and NFT activity.
Learn moreFrequently Asked Questions
Which has a higher market cap, Bitcoin or Ethereum?
Market capitalization changes continuously with price. You can compare the current market cap of Bitcoin and Ethereum in the table above. A larger market cap generally signals a more established asset, but it does not predict future performance.
Should I choose Bitcoin or Ethereum for the long term?
Neither Bitcoin nor Ethereum is inherently better — they serve different purposes and carry different risks. The right choice depends on your own research, risk tolerance and goals. This page is informational only and is not financial advice.
Which is more volatile, Bitcoin or Ethereum?
Volatility changes over time for both Bitcoin and Ethereum. Smaller-cap assets often show larger short-term price swings, but past volatility does not predict future moves. Always manage risk carefully.
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