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Comparison

Bitcoin vs Cardano

A side-by-side look at Bitcoin (BTC) and Cardano (ADA) — live price, market capitalization, supply, all-time records and project fundamentals. Figures refresh hourly from public market data. For informational purposes only; not financial advice.

Side by side Source CoinGecko Updated hourly
Bitcoin logo
Bitcoin BTC
Rank #1
$62,630.00
-5.56% 24h
Market cap
$1.25T
24h volume
$35.23B
Cardano logo
Cardano ADA
Rank #20
$0.160984
-6.33% 24h
Market cap
$5.98B
24h volume
$453.52M

Bitcoin vs Cardano: Key Metrics

Metric BTC ADA
Market cap rank #1 #20
Price $62,630.00 $0.160984
Market capitalization $1.25T $5.98B
24-hour trading volume $35.23B $453.52M
24-hour change -5.56% -6.33%
Circulating supply 20,043,646 37,206,017,184
Maximum supply 21,000,000 45,000,000,000
All-time high $126,080.00 $3.09
All-time low $67.81 $0.01925275
Genesis / launch January 3, 2009
Hashing algorithm SHA-256
Categories tracked 8 9

Bold values mark the larger figure for size-based metrics (market cap, volume). Larger is not inherently “better.”

What Are Bitcoin and Cardano?

Bitcoin BTC

Bitcoin is the world's first decentralized cryptocurrency, created in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. It enables peer-to-peer electronic cash transactions without intermediaries like banks or governments, operating on a blockchain secured by Proof of Work mining and the SHA-256 cryptographic algorithm. With a fixed supply cap of 21 million coins and programmatic halvings every four years that reduce miner rewards, Bitcoin is designed as a deflationary digital asset often called "digital gold." Its value stems from solving the double-spending problem without trusted intermediaries, creating the first truly scarce digital asset with censorship resistance and permissionless access that no government, corporation, or individual can control. Bitcoin operates as a decentralized peer-to-peer network where transactions are recorded on a public ledger called the blockchain, distributed across thousands of computers globally.

Full Bitcoin profile →

Cardano ADA

Cardano is a blockchain platform built on academic research that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications while using significantly less energy than traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. What sets Cardano apart is its methodical, research-driven approach — every major feature is peer-reviewed by scientists and cryptographers before being added to the network. This careful process aims to create a more secure and stable foundation compared to platforms that prioritize speed over thorough testing. The platform's native cryptocurrency, ADA, is used to send money, pay transaction fees, and participate in network governance.

Full Cardano profile →

Category Overlap

How Bitcoin and Cardano are classified by CoinGecko, and where they overlap.

Shared
Smart Contract PlatformLayer 1 (L1)GMCI 30 IndexGMCI IndexCoinbase 50 Index
Bitcoin only
FTX HoldingsProof of Work (PoW)Bitcoin Ecosystem
Cardano only
Cardano EcosystemProof of Stake (PoS)GMCI Layer 1 IndexMade in USA

Bitcoin vs Cardano FAQ

Which has a bigger market cap, Bitcoin or Cardano?
Bitcoin has the larger market capitalization ($1.25T) compared with Cardano ($5.98B), roughly 209.8× larger.
What do Bitcoin and Cardano have in common?
Both are classified by CoinGecko under: Smart Contract Platform, Layer 1 (L1), GMCI 30 Index, GMCI Index, Coinbase 50 Index.
Is Bitcoin or Cardano a better investment?
We don’t provide financial advice or price predictions. This page compares factual market data only. Which asset suits you depends on your own research, goals and risk tolerance — always do your own due diligence before investing.

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