Bitcoin and Ethereum operate on fundamentally different principles. While Ethereum functions as a programmable blockchain platform, Bitcoin serves as a decentralized store of value—often compared to digital gold. The distinction is crucial: Bitcoin features an absolute supply cap of 21 million coins, operates without a central foundation governing its direction, and maintains an immutable protocol that has proven its resilience through years of market stress. This design philosophy prioritizes security and monetary soundness over flexibility, making Bitcoin's role in the crypto ecosystem uniquely positioned as the ultimate value-preservation asset.