Of all of the cryptocurrencies currently on the market today, bitcoin is probably the most well-known. It was the first mainstream cryptocurrency and currently has the biggest market cap of any cryptocurrency.
However, just because bitcoin is the biggest doesn’t mean it’s the best. For one thing, bitcoin miners use an unprecedented amount of energy, which has turned off some major bitcoin advocates.
Also, because it is so big, it likely going to become less volatile over time, especially when compared to other coins. By investing in bitcoin alternatives, you can diversify your portfolio and increase your chances of making a profit.
Are you interested in learning more? If so, then keep on reading and we will take you through everything that you will want to know!
Ethereum (ETH)
The most popular alternative to bitcoin is ethereum. Ethereum is a decentralized software platform. It is not an actual currency but a platform.
The cryptocurrency that is traded on ethereum is known as ether. You can imagine that ethereum is a road, and ether is the car that gets you around.
If you have ever heard of NFTs, (nonfungible tokens), then you may know that these tokens are traded on the ethereum platform. Different applications are run on ethereum.
If bitcoin is the gold of cryptocurrency, then ether is the silver.
Seeing that bitcoin was using too much energy, the heads of ethereum decided to shift from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake. This new algorithm will take up less energy and allow ethereum to be lighter and faster.
Make sure to check the ethereum price CAD so that you can always know how much it is worth.
Litecoin (LTC)
Litecoin was made with the intention of acting as a light version to bitcoin. It is based on an open-source global payment network. It is cheaper and faster to make transactions on this network.
Consumer-grade computers are able to decode litecoin, as opposed to bitcoin, which basically requires supercomputers.
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin is a cryptocurrency that started in 2013. It was originally started as a joke and was meant to poke fun at bitcoin. However, the coin also became very popular among users of the WallStreetBets subreddit.
In fact, it became so popular that its value shot up immensely and quickly. Some users even became overnight millionaires. Unlike other cryptos, however, there is no limit to how many dogecoins there can be.
This means that it is subject to major inflationary issues down the road.
Cardano (ADA)
Cardano was created by a group of cryptography experts, mathematicians, and engineers. The crypto was helmed by one of the men who helped to first create ethereum.
Several of the founders of ethereum were unhappy with the direction that the cryptocurrency was going in, so they split off and started their own currencies.
Cardano created its blockchain after doing a lot of peer-reviewed research and experimentation. The researchers who helped start Cardano have written more than ninety papers about blockchain technology across a variety of subjects. This research acts as teh backbone of the cryptocurrency.
Because of all of the work put into Cardano, the crypto stands out among its peers. People have referred to it as the “ethereum killer” because of how powerful and efficient its blockchain is. With that said, Cardano is still relatively new to the world of crypto and has a long way to go.
In fact, the crypto is trying to grow in versatility and popularity and has come up with financial products that are decentralized and similar to ethereum. It also wants to provide solutions for legal contract tracing, voter fraud, chain interoperability, and more.
Polkadot (DOT)
Polkadot is a very unique cryptocurrency. Its goals are to deliver interoperability among other blockchains. The protocol for Polkadot is meant to connect permission-less and permissioned blockchains, as well as oracles, to let systems work together in one platform.
The main component of Polkadot is its relay chain that allows for the interoperability of different networks. It also sets up a space for parachains to exist. These are parallel blockchains with their own native coins for specific-use cases.
So how does Polkadot differ from something like ethereum? Instead of just making decentralized apps (DApps) on Polkadot, a developer can make their own blockchain while also using the security that Polkadot’s chain already has.
When it comes to ethereum, a developer can make a new blockchain but they need to make their own security features. This can leave smaller and newer projects vulnerable to attacks.
The bigger the blockchain is, the safer it is going to be. Polkadot calls this concept “shared security.”
Stellar (XLM)
Stellar is an open blockchain network. It was built to allow for enterprise solutions. It does this by connecting financial institutions for the purpose of large transactions.
With this platform, large institutions can make fast and cheap transactions.
The Importance of Knowing About Bitcoin Alternatives
Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now have a better idea of the different bitcoin alternatives out there. As we can see, there are many different options for people who want to try a crypto other than bitcoin. Just make sure that you do your research before deciding on which crypto you want to put your money into.
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