Bitcoin and Ethereum are two of the most well-known cryptocurrencies in the world. Here's what you need to know about them.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin is a digital asset and a payment system invented by Satoshi Nakamoto. Transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded in a public dispersed ledger called a blockchain. Bitcoin is unique in that there are a finite number of them: 21 million.

Ethereum

Ethereum is a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts: applications that run exactly as programmed without any possibility of fraud or third party interference. Ethereum is powered by the Ethereum blockchain. Ether is a cryptocurrency whose blockchain is generated by the Ethereum platform.