Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently acknowledged Bitcoin’s continuing advantages in certain aspects compared to Ethereum, particularly highlighting Bitcoin’s leadership in simplicity, stability of the protocol, higher node counts, and lower reliance on remote procedure call services.
In a social media exchange on June 4, Buterin responded to discussions among users debating Ethereum’s position and potential areas needing improvement. Users were emphasizing Ethereum’s edge in censorship resistance and network security, though conceding the blockchain is still trailing in overall transaction throughput. Buterin agreed on that assessment, recognizing that while Ethereum currently tops the industry standards in security measures and protection against censorship, Bitcoin retains a notable edge in several critically important areas.
Specifically, Buterin pointed out Bitcoin’s simpler, less frequently modified coding framework as an operational strength. He also cited Bitcoin’s extensive node network, aided by lighter infrastructure needs, as a key advantage ensuring its high level of decentralization. Moreover, Ethereum continues to be more dependent on intermediary RPC providers such as Infura, Alchemy, or Ankr; this reliance, he suggested, somewhat reduces Ethereum’s level of decentralization relative to Bitcoin.
Discussing Ethereum’s commitments moving forward, Buterin stressed the ongoing efforts around enhancing censorship resistance through Layer 2 (L2) integration. He challenged the notion brought up by other users who suggested that the interoperability between chains was effectively resolved. Buterin emphasized that true interoperability will only be achieved when transactions conducted across various L2 solutions reach the same trustless, censorship-resistant quality experienced within individual layer-two solutions.
In his own words, solving interoperability is crucial as long as transactions across chains remain dependent on trusted intermediaries. To underline this position, Buterin invoked Ethereum’s foundational principle of maintaining “no regression”—ensuring all actions maintain censorship resistance, decentralization, and trustlessness on par with native Ethereum layer-one transfers.
Comparatively, Bitcoin’s relative simplicity ensures its blockchain remains easier to audit, manage, and maintain reliably over time. Ethereum, meanwhile, has become increasingly complex through the addition of smart-contract functionality, extensive updates, and upgrades such as the recent Pectra network upgrade introduced in early May. Bitcoin, by contrast, undergoes far fewer significant protocol modifications, providing users an environment of heightened predictability and stability.
Overall, Buterin’s remarks highlight the tangible strengths Bitcoin continues to offer the cryptocurrency community, underscoring that Ethereum, despite substantial innovation and progress in certain fields, still has significant room for improvement in its aspiration to achieve truly decentralized, censorship-proof solutions across the blockchain ecosystem.
