Uniswap

 is now available for trading on BTC Markets.

Uniswap is the native token of the Uniswap decentralised exchange - a liquidity provider for the trading of ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum network, which uses a trading model known as an automated liquidity protocol. This type of model incentivises users to provide liquidity, which guarantees a liquidity pool, ensuring that trades can be executed instantly at a known price.

Start trading Uniswap today! 

https://app.btcmarkets.net/buy-sell?market=UNI-AUD

New Listing: Uniswap (UNI)

Bitcoin

Ethereum

Cryptocurrencies have always been subject to waves of volatility. But they are steadily rising in popularity and gaining traction among investors around the world. Of the hundreds of cryptocurrencies available on the market today, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are the two most popular and well-known. They have long held the largest market caps and tend to be the yardsticks by which all other cryptocurrencies are measured.

 up by more than 300% over the past 12 months and Ethereum’s value soaring by roughly 700% in the same period, more and more people are entering the BTC vs ETH debate. Each of these digital currencies has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, and it is always wise to conduct extensive research on any investment.

 when deciding which of these options is the right one for you to buy.

Launched in January 2009 and based on a White Paper written by a mysterious entity who calls themselves Satoshi Nakamoto, 

 is essentially the predecessor of every cryptocurrency that has been developed since then. While not the first attempt at an online currency, the underpinning blockchain technology has led to Bitcoin’s continued success. It’s even led to it gaining a measure of acceptance among regulators and government bodies. In fact, many cryptocurrencies — including Bitcoin — are now legally recognised as a medium of payment and a store of value in various countries around the world.

 took the concept of blockchain technology one step further by using it to create a decentralised software platform — rather than using it purely for creating a cryptographically secured public ledger. They did this by utilising another revolutionary piece of technology known as “smart contracts”.

With these tiny pieces of self-executing code, developers can build entire applications and even other cryptocurrencies on the Ethereum network. This is often the number one example given to the question of “Why is Ethereum better than Bitcoin?”

However, Ethereum is more likely than Bitcoin to be more heavily impacted by regulatory changes in the future. With its strong ties to the decentralised finance (DeFi) industry, some regulators are concerned that these decentralised and distributable applications offer bank-like services but don’t offer the same consumer protections.

Ethereum (ETH) vs Bitcoin (BTC): The similarities

, we need to discuss their shared similarities. Both of these are digital cryptocurrencies built using ultra-secure blockchain technology. Both use the proof of work model to create new coins and validate transactions. They are also both available from the majority of 

Both of these tokens are also decentralised, which means that they are not issued or regulated by a central bank or other authority. Another feature that adds value to each of the tokens is the fact that only a limited quantity of each can ever be generated. However, the proof of work model used to “mine” these coins has an annual carbon footprint that has led to increasing criticism.

Both the Bitcoin and Ethereum networks are relatively slow when it comes to processing transactions, although Ethereum is slightly faster. So while they both have a first-mover advantage, there is a strong chance that they will be superseded by newer, faster and more sustainable cryptocurrencies.

Both face the potential problem of increased regulation from authorities around the world who are trying to find ways to control the sprawling industry. It isn’t clear right now what shape any new rules might take, but their decentralised nature makes them a subject of concern for regulators and governmental bodies everywhere.

The main difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum

So what is the most important difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum? The answer lies in their main purpose. Bitcoin is a purely digital currency that has become recognised as a store of value — effectively digital gold. In theory, it is meant to maintain its worth over time. As the digital currency that is the most widely accepted for payment, it makes sense that it consistently has the 

Ethereum, on the other hand, was designed to be a general-purpose blockchain that allows for limitless functions thanks to its smart contract. This means that ether, the token that the Ethereum network uses, is more than just a store of value, although it can be used as a digital currency. With smart contracts, users can exchange just about anything of value, including shares, real estate, Fiat currencies and more.

Both Bitcoin and Ethereum reward miners every time they add a block to the blockchain. With Bitcoin, this amount used to be 12.5 BTC per block and halved to 6.25 Bitcoins per block in February 2021. This amount will halve again once the next 210,000 blocks are mined. With Ethereum, the reward is fixed at three ether per block and will never change. While both networks currently use proof of work to add a block to the blockchain, Ethereum plans to switch to using something known as proof of stake. With this model, how fast a person can mine or validate transactions in a block is based on how many coins they own. So the more ether they hold, the more mining power they have.

Another place where these two cryptocurrencies differ lies in their transaction fees. With Bitcoin, they are entirely optional, and you can pay a miner extra to pay special attention to your transaction and be added to the blockchain a little sooner. However, the transaction will be added even if you don’t pay a fee. With Ethereum, you have to pay some ether that is converted into a unit known as “gas” in order to drive the computation that will add your transaction to the blockchain.

Bitcoin or Ethereum: Choosing the best buy

Though internet debates rage about which is the “superior” currency or which might supplant the other, the simple truth is that both Bitcoin and Ethereum complement each other. There is no likely scenario where one will totally replace the other.

With regards to which is the better buy, it all depends on your personal investment strategy and how tolerant you are to risk. Cryptocurrencies are a volatile market, and it is essential that you only invest money you can afford to lose. You will also have to do your own research on cryptocurrency investment to be sure that you’re comfortable with all the potential risks involved.

At the end of the day, both Bitcoin and Ethereum will probably be dominating the crypto landscape for quite some time. There is a very good chance that you will decide that both of these digital currencies have a place in your crypto portfolio, and even that there may be room for others like 

Buy and sell ETH and BTC on Australia’s largest cryptocurrency exchange

There are hundreds of platforms spread all around the world that are just waiting to give you access to the many varieties of different cryptocurrencies that are available today. To decide which one is right for you, you will not only need to know what they are but what features matter most to you.

Now that you know some of the core differences between these cryptocurrencies, you are ready to 

 today and get access to our secure platform as well as expert tips and advice on cryptocurrency investment.

Ethereum vs Bitcoin

On 13 September 2021, a single Bitcoin was valued at US$46,063 (AU$62,687). This represents a decrease of around US$6,000 on the price several weeks before, but it is still significantly higher than the price slump experienced at the end of July and beginning of August 2021, when values dipped as low as US$30,817 (AU$41,939).

This information gives you an indication of the nature of Bitcoin as an investment. The currency is highly volatile, and US$10,000 (AU$13,615) shifts in the space of less than one week are not unheard of. Also, the value of Bitcoin changes daily — just because the dollar value of Bitcoin was over AU$62,000 on 13 September does not mean that the same will be true if you are reading this a year, a month, or even a week down the line.

The digital infrastructure behind Bitcoin was developed back in 2008, and the currency was launched in January of 2009. So when Bitcoin started out, it was worth zero dollars! The idea of a cryptocurrency was so revolutionary that it was difficult for potential customers to understand its value drivers.

It was not until several months later that Bitcoin received its first 

 — the mysterious individual or group of individuals credited with bringing Bitcoin to the world — sold off some of the newly developed currency units.

Martti Malmi is a Finnish developer who worked with Satoshi on the Bitcoin project. In October 2009, he sold 5,050 Bitcoins for a total value of US$5.02 (AU$6.04), which translates to US$0.0009 (AU$0.0013) for a single Bitcoin. While this gave 

 — something that investors could use to relate this new currency to 'real-world' value structures — the BTC currency was not traded on the open market until the following year. At its public launch in July 2010, the 

 was reduced to US$0.0008 (AU$0.0011), but it grew quickly to reach US$0.05 (AU$0.069) by 17 July.

As you can see, there has been an astronomical rise in value over the last 12 years of trading. Early adopters of Bitcoin and 

 are among those who have seen the greatest 

, although many other buyers have seen their wealth grow significantly, too — even those who only began 

What is Bitcoin's highest historical price?

As of September 2021, Bitcoin's highest historical price level was reached back in April of the same year. On 13 April 2021, 

 was logged at over US$63,503 (AU$83,504). This was only the third day in Bitcoin's history that the US$60,000 (AU$81,730) level was exceeded. Two days before, the value reached US$60,204 (AU$81,986), while a value of US$61,243 (AU$83,440) was posted several weeks before on 13 March.

Since then, the value has dropped significantly to just over half of that level, although it began to climb again in the second half of Q3, 2021.

Bitcoin price history — changes to Bitcoin's value over time

Bitcoin's value began low, and it stayed that way for quite some time. After exceeding US$1 for the first time in 2011, Bitcoin's worth began to fall again and early buyers saw around 25% of their investment value wiped off in only a few weeks. However, rather than being the death knell for Bitcoin, this was just a blip and the value soon began to rise once again. By the beginning of March 2011, the value was back up above US$1, and soon exceeded US$3 (AU$4.09).

In June 2011, the value leapt by more than US$10 (AU$13.62) to US$18.46 (AU$25.15), and went above US$20 (AU$27.24) the following week. After this, a period of volatility followed, before the currency reached US$30 (AU$40.86) in February 2013, surging on and on as the year progressed. By May of the same year, investors had seen a single 

 move beyond US$100 (AU$136.20) for the first time, hitting $138 during that month. Over the next few months, the value almost doubled once again, surpassing US$200 (AU$272.40) to reach US$209 (AU$284.70) in October of the same year — and this was just the beginning of Bitcoin's first meteoric rise.

As investors geared up for Christmas that year, they received an early gift from the crypto trading index — Bitcoin was closing in on US$1,000 (AU$1,362) for the first time in its history, eventually topping out at over US$1,047 (AU$1,426.01) and concluding the currency's early growth.

What followed was another unsettled period. Bitcoin was now four years old and had already entered the mainstream consciousness in a big way. Public opinion seemed to be divided into two camps — those who 

 that Bitcoin offered to investors and those who felt its volatility and unreliability meant its days were numbered.

Two years after that US$1,000 (AU$1,362) high, the value of Bitcoin had fallen to just over one-fifth of this amount. Many thought that the currency was finished as a viable investment. However, the days of rapid growth were not over.

By 2017, it was clear that something was stirring once again. The currency had almost reclaimed all of the value it lost in the previous two years, reaching more than US$998 (AU$1,359.48) in March of that year. And that's when growth levels shot off the scale.

 received an early Christmas present that year. Only this time, it was not in the form of a doubling or tripling of value, but instead stratospheric growth — on 18 December, a single Bitcoin was worth more than US$19,498 (AU$26,560).

More volatility and record gains once again

The volatility soon returned, but this time the swings were wilder than ever before. In 2020, the FCoin exchange became insolvent, casting doubt on the currency, but markets were soon buoyed once again when India's supreme court lifted their ban on Bitcoin trading. Then, the needle shot the other way, and Bitcoin lost half of its value in only two days. The jury was still very much out on Bitcoin's long-term investment potential.

Fast forward less than one year, and Bitcoin was grabbing headlines with stratospheric rises yet again, hitting almost US$40,000 (AU$54,488) in January 2021 before another massive plummet. Further rallies later in the year saw the currency heading into yet more uncharted territories, going beyond US$60,000 (AU$81,730) for the first time. Huge wins and huge losses have characterised Bitcoin's value graph history, and this looks likely to continue through 2021 and beyond.

Future value growth: What will Bitcoin be worth in 5 years?

As we have seen from looking at Bitcoin's growth chart, this is a somewhat volatile currency. However, over the years, growth has generally been positive. Even when the major downturns are factored in, Bitcoin has still experienced huge aggregate gains in its first decade of trading. This means we can probably expect further growth in the future.

Just how much growth we can expect, it's difficult to tell. Some experts anticipate that the value of one BTC will rise to US$100,000 (AU$136,200) by 2022, with even more growth expected across the next five years. Other experts place this projected value at US$250,000 (AU$340,450) or even US$350,000 (AU$476,700) by 2022.

One expert — the founder of the Xapo Bitcoin wallet — said that he expected the value to hit US$1,000,000 (AU$1,362,200) over the next five or six years, an enormous rise in Bitcoin pricing.

These are widely different expectations, but all of them share one thing in common — all of these experts expect to see significant growth in the value of Bitcoin over the coming years, at an even higher rate than we have seen in the past.

Start investing and trading in Bitcoin today with BTC Markets

 website, and start trading in this exciting cryptocurrency today.

Bitcoin Price History

Cryptocurrency is bought and sold in different ways.

Trades are commonly made on public exchanges like BTC Markets. Others are settled ‘over-the-counter’ (OTC).

OTC refers to trading privately between two parties. Trades are made outside of public exchanges. OTC is an effective way to save money on large trades.

What is OTC and how does it differ from exchange trading?

OTC trades are negotiated deals made between two private parties. Stocks, currencies, and other assets, like cryptocurrency, can be bought and sold OTC.

This differs from exchange trading which occurs in marketplaces hosted by exchanges. For example, the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) hosts stock markets. Similarly, BTC Markets hosts trades between digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, and Australian dollars.

These markets consist of digital order books. Buy and sell orders go ‘onto the books’ when created. Orders are taken ‘off the books’ when matched with other trades.

OTC contrasts this. There is no order book. Prices are privately negotiated and agreed upon by two parties.

One benefit of OTC is fixed rates. This reduces the risk of exposure to price slippage. Slippage refers to prices changing while orders are being placed. This results in entering or exiting a trade at an undesired price.

Slippage commonly occurs in volatile markets.

How does OTC save money on large cryptocurrency trades?

OTC trades can result in a lower average purchase price. This is especially beneficial for high-volume trades. Large trades executed on exchanges can have the opposite outcome. This has to do with order books.

Say an individual, Mary, wants to buy 5 Bitcoin at market value. Bitcoin is trading at AU$15,000 per coin. She looks to buy on an exchange.

The order book shows 1 Bitcoin is available at AU$15,000 – not enough to fulfil Mary’s 5 Bitcoin trade. However, more volume is available. Other sell orders sit at higher prices. Mary’s trade is settled by taking from these orders. She now owns 5 Bitcoin but has paid more than intended.

What if Mary made the same trade OTC? She engages with a dealer to buy 5 Bitcoin. Both parties agree on a deal. Mary buys 5 Bitcoin at $15,000 per coin. The fixed rate results in cost savings on her purchase.

Who supports OTC trade for cryptocurrency?

Our OTC desk is for discrete, high-volume trades.

We facilitate your deal directly, and you gain access to our global network of liquidity providers.

The OTC service is open to individuals, institutions, and Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF) clients, for orders worth AU$100,000 or more.

 to find out more information about over-the-counter trading.

New Listing: Uniswap (UNI)

Ethereum vs Bitcoin

Bitcoin Price History

How to Save Money on Large Cryptocurrency Trades