Crypto Investing — Novice: The Major Assets: Bitcoin & Ethereum

Bitcoin (BTC) was the first cryptocurrency (2009). Its purpose is to be a scarce, decentralized store of value and settlement network, with a fixed supply cap of 21 million coins.

Ethereum (ETH) added programmability: smart contracts are self-executing programs on the blockchain. This turned the ledger into a platform for apps (DeFi, NFTs, stablecoins, prediction markets), with ETH used to pay for computation.

Most other assets ('altcoins' and 'tokens') build on these ideas, each with different trade-offs in speed, cost, security, and decentralization.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin = scarce digital store of value with a fixed supply.
• Ethereum = programmable platform; smart contracts power most crypto apps.
• Other assets are variations on these themes with different trade-offs.

Educational disclaimer: This material is provided by Nieto Engineering Inc. for internal education only. It is not investment, financial, legal, or tax advice and is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any asset. Cryptocurrency, equities, and prediction markets carry substantial risk, including total loss of capital. Past performance does not indicate future results. Always do your own research and consult a licensed professional before investing.