Bitcoin (BTC) vs Stellar (XLM)

Bitcoin is an electronic payment network that is distributed, decentralized, immutable, censorship-resistant, and peer-to-peer. It is based on principles of cryptography and operates through independent contributors, miners, and node operators. The Bitcoin network also introduces a new security mechanism called Proof of Work. The native currency of the network, bitcoin, is often considered digital gold. Announced in 2008 and officially launched in 2009, Bitcoin is an alternative to traditional payment systems, allowing users to bypass trusted financial intermediaries.

Stellar is a layer 1 blockchain platform designed to support fast, secure, and low-cost value transfers between different currencies. Launched in 2014 by one of the co-founders of Ripple, another cryptocurrency project aimed at facilitating cross-border payments for businesses and institutions, Stellar focuses more on modest daily exchanges. The Stellar network uses a unique consensus protocol, the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), which allows for rapid transaction confirmation without relying on Proof of Work (PoW) or Proof of Stake (PoS).