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The cryptocurrency industry started with Bitcoin. Ripple came later but both are equally popular amongst cryptocurrency investors and enthusiasts.
Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency, by numbers has the largest market share. XRP (Ripple’s very own digital currency token) is not far behind and ranks on number 4, as per data from CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko.
Both cryptocurrency systems employ blockchain in their operation yet there are a few differences on some fundamental levels. To talk about those differences, we have to take into consideration their primary aspects – the protocols and the cryptocurrencies.
First, let’s discuss the protocol differences.
Bitcoin vs Ripple: Protocol Differences
The Bitcoin Protocol
Satoshi Nakamoto founded the Bitcoin protocol as a “Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” in 2009.
Basically, it is a decentralized public ledger that records all bitcoin (BTC) transactions. All ledger entries are made only after the transactions are verified sufficiently, which is done by bitcoin miners. Miners solve complex mathematical algorithms to process different BTC transfers. They then add the transaction data to the blockchain.
Solving these math puzzles, verifying transactions, and consequently adding blocks to the blockchain requires considerable computing power and time. The quickest miners are rewarded for their efforts with an appropriate number of bitcoins. This is the ‘proof-of-work’ protocol that makes new BTC become a part of the Bitcoin economy.
After the latest halving event, the Bitcoin blockchain has been churning out nearly 900 bitcoins every day. For more information on bitcoin mining, check out the video below:
The Ripple protocols: RippleNet and XRPL
While the Bitcoin blockchain is an open platform for people to join, and contribute in it’s growth by transacting and mining, Ripple is a fintech company based in San Francisco, California with RippleNet being it’s unique fintech offering.
With RippleNet, the company intends to form a holistic ecosystem of banks, payment processors, and other financial institutions, enabling them to conduct super fast and efficient international payments. The primary idea is to enable real-time settlement of monetary transactions with adequate transparency and security.
Take a look at the video below to understand RippleNet’s design and it’s working:
RippleNet is Ripple’s financial technology facet, but there’s a decentralized aspect too. It’s the XRP Ledger or XRPL.
The XRP Ledger is a decentralized ledger secured by cryptography and powered by a network of peer-to-peer computers. XRPL’s native cryptocurrency XRP fuels all transactions on the network and together they are the primary operating force behind Ripple’s real-time financial transaction system.
It does not employ proof of work to verify transfers. Contrary to Bitcoin’s mining process, XRPL participants function as independent validating nodes and compare transaction records to ascertain the authenticity of transactions.
XRPL’s network of active validators are 153 in number and include universities, exchanges, and financial institutions.
Time and again, the company has constantly maintained that XRPL is an independent open-source platform and free from any kind of commercial association. This means that even if Ripple shuts down, the XRP Ledger will continue to operate normally.
Other Differences
Transaction Metrics
Bitcoin handles about 300,000 to 400,000 transactions per day with 7 – 15 transfers happening in a second. Confirmation times for transactions may range from several minutes to a few hours.
The XRP Ledger confirms transactions in 3-5 seconds. Data from the XRP metrics website, XRPSCAN reveals that XRPL has processed 800,000 – 1 million transactions per day in 2020.
BTC vs XRP: Cryptocurrency Differences
Cryptocurrency Supply and Circulation
Bitcoins have a maximum supply of 21 million tokens. No individual or centralized authority controls BTC’s circulation. One of the most distinctive features of bitcoin is that it is divisible. One BTC consists of 100 million smaller units known as satoshis.
XRP has a total supply of 100 billion coins. These are indivisible. Out of these 100 billion units, millions were distributed in various stages of airdrops, preliminary sales, or private placements. Banks too received XRP for their international payment trials.
Ripple ensured that token distributions didn’t affect the XRP supply. The current circulation is a little above 44 billion. There is a smart contract operated escrow system in place, that releases 1 billion coins every month in the market. It is programmed to take back all unused XRPs after the month to avoid oversupply or misuse.
Application
Since the last 11 years, bitcoin has become widely popular for being an extremely profitable investment asset, similar to gold. Most folks just buy and hold BTC for extended periods to reap exponential profits. Apart from this, bitcoin has recently seen a significant influx of institutional investors, who trade in bitcoin derivative offerings, like futures and options.
Ripple is in the business of adding an increasing number of banking and financial partners to its growing payments ecosystem. As per the website, more than 300 financial institutions in 40+ countries are already using RippleNet. XRP is at the heart of these partnerships as the digital asset makes inter financial interactions possible.
Ripple also has an additional service called On-Demand Liquidity, for its partners to conduct smooth monetary transfers using XRP. Some of Ripple’s Indian partners include IndusInd Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, YES Bank.
Even with their dissimilarities, Bitcoin and Ripple are interesting and promising cryptocurrency platforms and can make a world of difference to global financial systems.
In order to truly gauge the potential of these cryptocurrencies, you will have to own and use them yourself. WazirX offers seamless options for you to buy bitcoin or Ripple’s token XRP or both comfortably. For more details visit: https://wazirx.com
Further Reading:
What is Litecoin (LTC), Hows is it Different from Bitcoin
What are the Differences Between Ripple (XRP) and Ethereum (ETH)
What is the difference between Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple?
What is the difference between Litecoin and Ethereum?
Difference between Litecoin (LTC) and Ripple (XRP)
What is the difference between a token and a Bitcoin?
India Rupee vs Bitcoin: 6 things you should compare
What are the Differences Between Peer-to-Peer and Regular Bitcoin Exchanges?
What are the Differences Between Bitcoin and Ethereum?
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Bitcoin Work?
The blockchain, a distributed digital ledger, is what Bitcoin is based on. As the name suggests, blockchain is a linked database made up of blocks that store information about each transaction, such as the date and time, total amount, buyer and seller, and a unique identifier for each exchange. Entries are linked in chronological order to form a digital blockchain. Entries are linked in chronological order to form a digital blockchain. Blockchain is decentralized, which means any central authority does not control it.
How Can I Convert Bitcoins To Cash?
Bitcoin may be converted to cash in various ways, including crypto exchanges, Bitcoin ATMs, Bitcoin Debit Cards, and Peer to Peer Transactions. You may do this by using Bitcoin exchanges like WazirX. You may also sell Bitcoin for cash faster and more anonymously through a peer-to-peer marketplace.
What Is Bitcoin And How Does It Work?
Bitcoin is decentralized digital money that may be bought, sold, and exchanged without an intermediary such as a bank. Bitcoin is based on a blockchain that is considered to be a distributed digital ledger. As the name suggests, blockchain is a linked database made up of blocks that store information about each transaction, such as the date and time, total amount, buyer and seller, and a unique identifier for each exchange. Entries are linked in chronological order to form a digital blockchain
Can XRP Reach $100 Dollars?
To reach $100, XRP must climb 270 times. At $100, the market capitalization of XRP would be $5.1 trillion. If XRP rose at a 25% annual pace, it would take at least 26 years to hit $100.
Should I Invest In XRP 2023?
XRP is a virtual currency that was created by Ripple Labs. It is used to facilitate cross-border payments and is often referred to as a "bridge currency." XRP is one of the top Cryptos by market capitalization and is traded on many Crypto exchanges. You can consider investing in XRP in 2023, but it is also advisable to conduct your own research before making any investment decision.
Is Bitcoin And Cryptocurrency The Same Thing?
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that was designed to facilitate cross-border transactions, eliminate government control over transactions, and streamline the entire process without third-party intermediaries. The absence of intermediaries has resulted in a significant reduction in transaction costs. Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, created the first cryptocurrency in 2008. It began as open-source software for money transfers. Since then, plenty of cryptocurrencies have emerged, with some focusing on specific fields.
Should I Buy Ripple Coin?
Based on your personal circumstances and investment plan, you should conduct your own research to determine whether the Ripple (XRP) crypto is a suitable asset for your portfolio. Always keep in mind that previous performance is no guarantee of future profits, and never buy XRP or any other Crypto with money you cannot afford to lose.
How Can I Get Bitcoin?
To begin, go to the WazirX website and register. After that, you will receive a verification email. The link received by verification mail will only be available for a few seconds, so make sure you click it as quickly as possible. This will successfully verify your email address. The following step is to set up security, so choose the best solution for you. After you've set up the security, you'll be given the option of continuing with or without completing the KYC process. Following that, you'll be sent to the Funds & Transfers section, where you can begin depositing Bitcoins into your wallet. You may also use INR to fund your WazirX Bitcoin wallet and then use it to purchase Bitcoin.
How Many Bitcoins Will Ever Be Created?
The source code of Bitcoin stipulates that it must have a restricted and finite quantity. As a result, only 21 million Bitcoins will ever be generated. These Bitcoins are added to the Bitcoin supply at a predetermined rate of one block every ten minutes on average. The supply of Bitcoins will be depleted once miners have unlocked this number of Bitcoins. It's possible, however, that the protocol for Bitcoin will be altered to allow for a higher supply.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency is not a legal tender and is currently unregulated. Kindly ensure that you undertake sufficient risk assessment when trading cryptocurrencies as they are often subject to high price volatility. The information provided in this section doesn't represent any investment advice or WazirX's official position. WazirX reserves the right in its sole discretion to amend or change this blog post at any time and for any reasons without prior notice.
