Bitcoin ist nicht einfach "eine Kryptowährung": Was macht Bitcoin einzigartig?

When Bitcoin is reported on, you often hear phrases like:

“Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies…” But Bitcoin is not just another “cryptocurrency.” There are fundamental differences that are often overlooked or misunderstood—even by the media. In this article, I’ll explain what makes Bitcoin unique and why you should know that “Bitcoin” and “altcoins” (all other cryptocurrencies) are not the same thing.

1. What is a cryptocurrency, anyway?

Cryptocurrencies are digital, usually decentralized payment systems based on cryptographic processes. Well-known examples include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin, or Cardano.

However: Not everything called a “cryptocurrency” serves the same purpose or follows the same principles!

2. What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is the first and oldest digital money system in the world that works without a central authority (bank, company, government).

• Decentralized: Anyone can participate; no one can unilaterally control the system.
• Limited: There will never be more than 21 million Bitcoin (artificial scarcity).
• Censorship-resistant: No one can block your payments or freeze your account.
• Immutable: The rules and code are globally verifiable and hard to change.
• Neutral: No founding company, no marketing department, no central control.

3. What are Altcoins?

Altcoins are all other cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin—whether Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin, or thousands of others.

Many altcoins differ from Bitcoin in important ways: Often more centralized: Usually there’s a developer team, a company, or a founder that sets the direction. Inflationary: Many altcoins have no fixed supply cap or it can be changed by the team. Technical differences: Different consensus mechanisms, different use cases (e.g., smart contracts). Greater dependency: Often more dependent on investors, marketing, or individuals.

Info box: Ethereum, for example, is a platform for “smart contracts” and was started by a small developer group. Dogecoin was originally created as a joke and has no cap on the number of coins.

4. Why isn’t Bitcoin just “one of many”?

a) History and Independence

• Bitcoin came first (since 2009)—no ICO, no VCs, no corporate backing.
• No one earns a fee on every Bitcoin transaction.

b) Technical simplicity and security

• Bitcoin is intentionally simple, which maximizes security.

c) No central control

• Bitcoin is the only major system without a founder, company, or foundation in the background.

d) Fixed supply

• The “digital gold”—the 21 million cap is a central feature.

5. Why does the difference matter?

• For users: Using Bitcoin means using a globally unique, open monetary system.
• For investors: The risk of individual teams or companies controlling altcoins is minimal with Bitcoin.
• For payments: Only Bitcoin is truly neutral, permanent, and free from centralized influence.

Important:
Not every altcoin is automatically “bad.” There are interesting projects and innovations.
But: Only Bitcoin stands for a completely independent, censorship-resistant, and permanently limited digital money system.

6. Why do so many people still talk about “cryptocurrencies” in general?

• The media and many exchanges don’t differentiate—often because they profit from new coins.
• For newcomers, everything seems the same—“somehow digital, somehow money.”

7. Conclusion: Bitcoin is unique

If you’re dealing with digital money, understand: Bitcoin is not just “one cryptocurrency among many.” Independence, decentralization, and scarcity make Bitcoin unique— all other coins (“altcoins”) are technically and organizationally different and often more similar to classic startups than to real, neutral money.

When you use Bitcoin, you’re using the first and so far only decentralized, censorship-resistant, independent digital monetary system in the world.

Weiterführende Links

• Bitcoin-Whitepaper (Original)