Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Representation of Bitcoin and Ethereum
cryptocurrencies are seen in this illustration photo taken in ... [+] Krakow, Poland on
September 18, 2022. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty
Images Bitcoin is the first, most popular, and biggest cryptocurrency by market cap.
However, many Bitcoin advocates draw a sharp contrast between bitcoin and the broader
“crypto” space. Michael Saylor, founder of MicroStrategy and a bitcoin bull, voiced this on
CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." He said, "Speaking for all the bitcoiners, we feel trapped in
a bad relationship with crypto, and we want out." Why such a stark divide between terms that
appear closely related both linguistically and technologically? After all, every
cryptocurrency is built on blockchain — a technology that allows transferring digital assets
through a decentralized network, which maintains and updates the ever-growing transactions
ledger. The essence of “bitcoin, not crypto” lies in the concept of decentralization. So
far, no blockchain can compete with Bitcoin in this respect. However, we may still reconcile
this perspective with the existence of other blockchains by recognizing the different
purposes they serve. Decentralization Is A Spectrum Decentralization is a solution to
avoiding central authority flaws. Bitcoin is revolutionary in achieving a truly
decentralized value transfer system, based on cryptology and economic incentive — new
bitcoin and transaction fees paid to the miners. In return, miners invest in specialized
hardware and spend a lot of electricity. They do this to find proof-of-work for each block,
thus securing the blockchain. Miners are motivated to keep Bitcoin safe, operating, and most
importantly, censorship-resistant. An alternative to PoW is proof-of-stake, which requires
validators to stake the blockchain’s currency to prove their good intentions. This consensus
and its variations are now the most popular among blockchains, as they allow for higher
scalability. However, PoS can create an oligarchic system. The more coins you stake, the
higher your chances of adding a block and earning a reward. This makes you wealthier,
allowing you to stake more coins. Unlike bitcoin miners, whose power remains unchanged after
mining a block, PoS validators can grow their influence. MORE FOR YOU Today’s NYT Mini
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Law—Musk Says Its ‘Score One’ For Free Speech Furthermore, centralization concerns extend
beyond the PoS consensus. A small number of nodes, liquid staking protocols pooling user
funds, nodes hosted by centralized services, high hardware requirements, and centralization
risks related to MEV (maximal extractable value) practices are just some of the problems
that most blockchains must face. On Ethereum, one of the most decentralized blockchains
other than Bitcoin, nearly 35% of staked coins come from the top three decentralized liquid
staking services, according to Dune Analytics. Another 20% come from the top three
centralized services. Additionally, 69% of Ethereum nodes are hosted by three centralized
providers, and 90% of the blocks are ordered by just three MEV-optimizing builders. With
1.16 TB, Ethereum blockchain weighs almost twice as much as Bitcoin (604 GB), making
participation harder for average users. Yes, most blockchains are much less decentralized
and therefore less censorship-resistant than Bitcoin. Moreover, unlike Bitcoin, which
Satoshi Nakamoto handed to the community less than two years after its launch, most other
blockchains are still tied to their founders. This group of insiders, including early
investors, often retains significant control, notably through pre-minted coins. This further
concentrates their wealth and power. Does this mean that the whole “crypto” space is
useless? It may be too early to say that. Decentralization is a spectrum, and even less
decentralized platforms still offer users more freedom and control than traditional web
services. This gives them the potential to serve various use cases beyond money. Not All
Cryptocurrencies Are Currencies Bitcoin’s primary goal is to create and sustain independent
money. As more people place their trust in bitcoin as an alternative to traditional
currencies, its value grows accordingly. In contrast, most other blockchains, like Ethereum
or Solana, were designed as multi-purpose smart contract platforms. Their goal is to enable
the development of decentralized applications, called dapps. Using these blockchains, the
next phase of the internet, known as Web3, could enable innovative use cases ranging from
gaming and social media to finance, commerce, and beyond. In this perspective, ether, the
native coin of Ethereum, is not a cryptocurrency. While it can be invested in or traded,
ether is more of a utility asset for Web3 than general-purpose money. Its primary role is to
power the Ethereum blockchain, functioning as payment for transactions and an incentive for
validators. As Ethereum-based dapps gain popularity, demand for ether increases to cover
transaction costs. Also, smart contract platforms’ founding teams often operate much like
traditional companies. They deal with issues like finding investment, solving technical
problems, building communities, and marketing their products. The value of these
blockchains' native coins reflects the quality of this work, distancing them from the notion
of independent currency. In the Web3 space, many consider such an organization necessary to
innovate, and it’s hard to disagree. However, efficiency at the expense of decentralization
goes against the cypherpunk ethos. This further increases the divide between Bitcoin and
crypto. Web3 is buzzing with activity. Yet, according to DappRadar, the top 15 blockchains
collectively register only 165 million unique active wallets per month. The future of the
space will likely hinge on finding the right balance between decentralization and
innovation. It will also depend on the teams’ ability to pass on their projects to the
community when the time comes. Blockchain-Based Tokens Beyond native coins like bitcoin and
ether, blockchains host a wide array of tokens, each with different functions and levels of
decentralization. These tokens include stablecoins, memecoins, protocol tokens, and all
sorts of digital units that anyone can easily create using a smart contract. The tokens
share the blockchain environment with native coins, but their value depends on the project
that issued them. For years, the tokens fueled bitcoin maximalists’ disdain for all crypto
but bitcoin. Numerous crypto scams, mostly involving such tokens, have caused significant
reputational damage to the crypto space. They have even tarnished bitcoin in the process.
With the introduction of Ordinals and Runes, some bitcoiners have reconsidered their stance
on tokens. These protocols, which assign value to satoshis (bitcoin’s smallest units) or
create tokens on Bitcoin, have sparked discussions about new use cases for the blockchain.
However, following the initial hype, both protocols now see only modest usage. Since their
peak in 2023, daily Ordinals inscriptions have dropped from over 400,000 to around 40,000.
Runes etchings have fallen from over 35,000 in April to fewer than 400. So far, bitcoin's
role as a better form of money is its main use, overshadowing any other. In short, bitcoin
remains unmatched in its decentralization and primary role as an alternative form of money.
Meanwhile, the broader crypto space is willing to compromise decentralization for innovation
and new use cases. As a result, bitcoin and crypto are growing increasingly distinct. Follow
me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website. Marie Poteriaieva Following Editorial
Standards Forbes Accolades
2024-10-03 12:22:55
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