Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency created, with the goal of offering a decentralized and secure financial system. Altcoins, such as Ethereum, Ripple and Litecoin, emerged with specific purposes that differ from Bitcoin.

1. Origin and Purpose

Bitcoin (BTC): Created for decentralized transactions and store of value.

Altcoins:

Ethereum: Platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications.

Ripple: Focused on fast and cheap international transfers.

Litecoin: Alternative for faster daily transactions.

2. Technology and Operation

Bitcoin uses traditional blockchain and energy-intensive mining.

Ethereum introduced smart contracts. Ripple uses consensus instead of mining. Litecoin has more efficient mining and faster blocks.

3. Scarcity and Value

Bitcoin has a limit of 21 million coins, reinforcing its scarcity.

Altcoins vary: Ethereum is unlimited, Ripple has already issued all the tokens, and Litecoin has a limit of 84 million.

4. Usability and Use Cases

Bitcoin is accepted as a means of payment and a store of value.

Ethereum is used to build decentralized applications. Ripple facilitates banking transactions. Litecoin is ideal for fast payments.

5. Adoption and Popularity

Bitcoin is the most well-known cryptocurrency, but altcoins like Ethereum gain relevance for their specific functionalities.