<p>Bitcoin and Ethereum have different and unique blockchains. They have no relationship (other than the fact that Ethereum and all other cryptcurrencies based their design on the Bitcoin blockchain).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-01T14:44:40.700Z
Right, in that case, why do I keep hearing that Ethereum complements Bitcoin? And if Ethereum is as amazing as some of the hype out there, can it eventually replace Bitcoin?
Organic
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-01T15:15:05.683Z
@Organic It could replace Bitcoin. Ethereum has a much more advanced scripting language, which is its strength (and weakness). Bitcoin is simpler (more elegant) and has a much larger support base.
Geremia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-01T15:40:51.453Z
Bitcoin is more focused on being a currency, while Ethereum is more focused on being a smart contract platform.  They both play their roles well, even though they are separate roles with some overlap.  That is what people mean when they say they complement each other.
Jestin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-01T16:09:03.217Z
@Geremia I thought Ethereum "inventors" originally said it specifically does not want to be a currency and gas certainly isn't. Did they change their mind? Anyway, Bitcoin is already hard to scale as a currency, adding a bunch of unrelated stuff on top certainly isn't going to make that easier.
Jannes
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-01T16:17:29.820Z
@Jannes Is Bitcoin even a currency? Many people hold different opinions on that question.
Geremia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-01T17:50:50.813Z
@Geremia strictly sure, but we're comparing bitcoin to ethereum here, one of which obviously meant to be payment mechanism/currency, the other...
Jannes
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-01T14:40:55.093Z
2016-06-01T14:40:55.093Z
karask
<p>If not, what is the relationship, if any, between Ethereum and Bitcoin and/or the Bitcoin blockchain?</p>

<blockchain><ethereum>
Does ethereum run on the bitcoin blockchain?
Organic
# Does ethereum run on the bitcoin blockchain?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-01)

If not, what is the relationship, if any, between Ethereum and Bitcoin and/or the Bitcoin blockchain?

**Tags:** blockchain, ethereum


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-06-01. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Bitcoin and Ethereum have different and unique blockchains. They have no relationship (other than the fact that Ethereum and all other cryptcurrencies based their design on the Bitcoin blockchain).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Right, in that case, why do I keep hearing that Ethereum complements Bitcoin? And if Ethereum is as amazing as some of the hype out there, can it eventually replace Bitcoin?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 It could replace Bitcoin. Ethereum has a much more advanced scripting language, which is its strength (and weakness). Bitcoin is simpler (more elegant) and has a much larger support base.  
> **username_3**: Bitcoin is more focused on being a currency, while Ethereum is more focused on being a smart contract platform.  They both play their roles well, even though they are separate roles with some overlap.  That is what people mean when they say they complement each other.  
> **username_4**: @username_2 I thought Ethereum "inventors" originally said it specifically does not want to be a currency and gas certainly isn't. Did they change their mind? Anyway, Bitcoin is already hard to scale as a currency, adding a bunch of unrelated stuff on top certainly isn't going to make that easier.  
> **username_2**: @username_4 Is Bitcoin even a currency? Many people hold different opinions on that question.  
> **username_4**: @username_2 strictly sure, but we're comparing bitcoin to ethereum here, one of which obviously meant to be payment mechanism/currency, the other...  

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