Ethereum is the second-biggest cryptocurrency, but it is vastly different from bitcoin. It is attempting to become the base layer of a new decentralized system. Other cryptocurrencies and decentralized applications can be launched on top of ethereum. A good way to view it is as a playground for developers. Decentralized finance and non-fungible tokens are two of the most famous areas of development on ethereum, although both have seen massive outflows throughout this crypto winter. Litecoin Litecoin is another older cryptocurrency, launched in 2011 by former Google engineer Charlie Lee. It was inspired by bitcoin, with Lee describing it as “the Silver to Bitcoin’s Gold.” With bitcoin viewed as more likely to be used as a store of value, the thesis behind litecoin was an offshoot of bitcoin that was more suitable for payments.