Bitcoin is an open-source software that allows its global user base to manage a digital money supply outside the control of any government or central bank.

 

It was created in response to the 2008 global economic crisis as a means to combat inflation. In fact, the first mined block contained the message: “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks,” a message many believe signifies the project’s revolutionary intent.

 

The Bitcoin software enables the computers running it to manage a ledger (the blockchain) that accounts for all transactions made using its currency (BTC) by enforcing a variety of rules.

 

The Bitcoin blockchain is a full record of the network’s transaction history validated by nodes, or individuals running its software. This ensures that each BTC cannot be copied or modified, and that bitcoins cannot be created or used in a way that is against its rules.

 

Bitcoins are scarce, divisible and transferable, making them a valuable alternative money.
 

以太坊创建的初衷是成为一个全球性的开源平台，用于定制资产和新型经济应用。 

 

以太坊被认为是迄今为止最雄心勃勃的区块链项目之一，它试图利用区块链技术，在货币之外的广泛用例中实现产品和服务的去中心化。 

 

迄今为止，以太坊已经经历了几个不同的阶段，且强调了其不同阶段有不同方面的能力。

 

首先，在2017年著名的“ ICO热潮”期间，企业家涌向以太坊, 而创作者们利用以太坊区块链上的新资产为新项目筹集资金。并且在这段时间里，以太坊被视为一种全球资本分配和融资的机制。

 

以太坊的一个新阶段，即去中心化金融（DeFi）,在2020年已经开始获得关注。 在这阶段中，去中心化的应用程序dapps则应运而生，其目的是在不需要传统银行或中介机构的情况下实现借贷等金融服务的自动化。