What is 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.

Bitcoins are created as a reward for a process known as mining. They can be exchanged for other currencies, products, and services. As of February 2015, over 100,000 merchants and vendors accepted bitcoin as payment.

How does Bitcoin work?

Bitcoin is decentralized. That means it is not controlled by any single institution. Instead, it relies on a network of computers around the world to verify and record transactions. This network is often referred to as the blockchain.

Bitcoins are created through a process called mining. Miners are rewarded with bitcoins for verifying and recording transactions into the blockchain. This process requires computers to solve complex mathematical problems.

What are the benefits of Bitcoin?

Bitcoin has several benefits over traditional currency. For example:

Bitcoin is decentralized. This means there is no central authority like a government or bank controlling it.

Bitcoin is global. It can be used by anyone, anywhere.

Bitcoin is anonymous. Users can hold multiple bitcoin addresses without revealing their identity.

Bitcoin is secure. Transactions are verified by network nodes and recorded in a public dispersed ledger called a blockchain.

Bitcoin is inflationary. New bitcoins are created at a fixed rate, so the value of bitcoins will increase over time.

What are the risks of Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is still a relatively new technology and has yet to be adopted by the mainstream. This means that there are still some risks associated with using it:

Bitcoin is volatile. The value of bitcoins can fluctuate greatly.

Bitcoin is irreversible. Once bitcoins are sent, they cannot be returned.

Bitcoin is unregulated. The legality of bitcoin varies from country to country.

Bitcoin is unsecure. Bitcoin exchanges and wallets have been hacked in the past.

What is 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 Ether token. Ether can be transferred between accounts and used to compensate participant nodes for computations performed.

What are the benefits of Ethereum?

The benefits of Ethereum include:

Decentralization

Ethereum is decentralized, meaning it is not controlled by any single institution. Instead, it relies on a network of computers around the world to verify and record transactions.

Security

Ethereum is secure. Transactions are verified by network nodes and recorded in a public dispersed ledger called a blockchain.

Fraud Resistance

Ethereum smart contracts are immune to fraud and third party interference.

What are the risks of Ethereum?

The risks of Ethereum include:

Volatility

The value of Ether can fluctuate greatly.

Uncertainty

The future of Ethereum is uncertain. There is no guarantee that it will become a popular platform.

Risk of Hackers

Hackers have proven to be a threat to Ethereum-based applications in the past.