BTC vs ETH
ETH earns about 25.42% at the top end right now; BTC caps around 1.12%. The bigger choice is what each token is for — same family or same use case?
Bitcoin — the original cryptocurrency, now bridged into DeFi. Ethereum's native coin — the base asset for most DeFi.
Side-by-side
BTC and ETH — what each is and what they earn
| BTC | ETH | |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Btc | Eth |
| Family | Btc | Eth |
| Type | Native | Native |
| Native staking APR | — | 3.10% |
| Market cap | $1.6 T | $280 B |
| Live pools | 42 | 788 |
| Best yield | 1.12% | 25.42% |
| Chains supported | 19 | 28 |
Top yield options
Top live pools — BTC vs ETH
BTC
Frequently asked
BTC vs ETH — common questions
Is BTC or ETH safer to hold yield on? +
Volatility differs first: stablecoins move ~0%, native coins move 30–80% a year, LSTs and wrapped tokens add small de-peg risk on top. For yield specifically, look at where each token earns — the chain and protocol matter more than the token itself.
Does BTC or ETH earn more? +
Right now ETH hits about 25.42% on its best live pool — but headline rate isn't the same as expected return. A 12% LP rate with 30% volatility is not better than 5% on a stablecoin.
Should I swap BTC for ETH to chase yield? +
Probably not just for yield — slippage, gas, and tax on the swap usually eat several months of the rate gap. Swapping makes sense when you're moving between different categories (e.g. native to LST) or you want a token you'll use for other things.
How do I choose between BTC and ETH? +
Start with what you already hold and what you understand. If both are unfamiliar, pick the one with a clearer use case to you — a coin you'll spend or stake long-term beats a higher rate on a token you can't explain.