Ethereum (ETH) vs Stellar (XLM)

Ethereum is the pioneer in the field of distributed and programmable blockchains. Launched in 2015, this project forever revolutionized the world of cryptocurrencies by introducing the concept of smart contracts, a computer protocol that allows for the programming of complex operations on a blockchain. These have enabled the creation of decentralized applications that have led to the emergence of new sectors including NFTs, DeFi, DAOs, Web3, and many others. Initially designed on a Proof of Work mechanism, Ethereum underwent a major change in 2022 by migrating to a Proof of Stake consensus. At the heart of this ecosystem, ETH is the native cryptocurrency and is used to pay transaction fees, reward validators, and contribute to the governance of the project.

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).