<p>The base proof of work system only differs on the block time, and the hashing algorithm. Bitcoin uses <code>sha256d</code>, ethereum uses <code>ethash</code>.</p>
<p>Ethereum currently does not make use of Proof of Stake, although it is planned for the future. Some of the testnets use Proof of Authority.</p>
<p>The consensus rules differ by a fair extent, however, since the two chains follow different models. Bitcoin is a utxo<sup>1</sup> based system, and the consensus rules revolve around that. Ethereum is an account based system, and has its own consensus rules to deal with that.</p>
<p>Moreover, ethereum has a much more complete smart contract platform, which requires additional rules, such as ensuring transactions are executed in order.</p>
<p><sup>1</sup> Unspent Transaction Output</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-10T12:03:29.973Z
2022-09-27T15:28:19.717Z
2022-09-27T15:28:19.717Z
Raghav Sood
<p>Bitcoin and Ethereum both use proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism. One of differences between Bitcoin Pow and Ethereum PoW is difficulty level, meaning that while in bitcoin block generation rate is 10 minutes on average, in Ethereum is around 12 seconds on average.</p>

<p><strong>Is there any other major difference between these two PoW algorithm? 
For example, does Ethereum use proof-of-stake (PoS) in parallel?</strong> </p>

<proof-of-work><ethereum><consensus><proof-of-stake>
What is the "main" difference between consensus mechanism of Bitcoin and Ethereum?
Questioner
# What is the "main" difference between consensus mechanism of Bitcoin and Ethereum?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-10)

Bitcoin and Ethereum both use proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism. One of differences between Bitcoin Pow and Ethereum PoW is difficulty level, meaning that while in bitcoin block generation rate is 10 minutes on average, in Ethereum is around 12 seconds on average.

**Is there any other major difference between these two PoW algorithm?
For example, does Ethereum use proof-of-stake (PoS) in parallel?**

**Tags:** proof-of-work, ethereum, consensus, proof-of-stake


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-08-10. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The base proof of work system only differs on the block time, and the hashing algorithm. Bitcoin uses `sha256d`, ethereum uses `ethash`.

Ethereum currently does not make use of Proof of Stake, although it is planned for the future. Some of the testnets use Proof of Authority.

The consensus rules differ by a fair extent, however, since the two chains follow different models. Bitcoin is a utxo1 based system, and the consensus rules revolve around that. Ethereum is an account based system, and has its own consensus rules to deal with that.

Moreover, ethereum has a much more complete smart contract platform, which requires additional rules, such as ensuring transactions are executed in order.

1 Unspent Transaction Output


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