 TITLE: Bitcoin vs. Ethereum: What’s the Difference? CONTENT: How to Buy Bitcoin and Ether\n----------------------------\nThere are several ways to purchase Bitcoin and Ether, and the method you choose will depend on what you want to do with your digital currency. Currently, there are two main reasons to own cryptocurrency.\nFirst, you may want to purchase and own crypto as an investment vehicle. Cryptocurrency prices are always changing, and many are rushing to purchase digital currencies to profit from the price growth over time (though there is no guarantee their value will rise). The other reason one may purchase digital currencies is to use them to make purchases in everyday life. Cryptocurrencies still haven't been widely adopted as a payment method, but many businesses have begun accepting certain digital currencies in addition to fiat currency as a form of payment.\nPrimarily, digital currencies are purchased via online exchange platforms, and the currencies are then stored in a digital wallet. The purchase transaction record is stored on the blockchain, but your digital wallets store your public and private keys, which are used to buy and sell digital currencies.\nSome of the popular online exchanges are Binance, Coinbase, Gemini and Kraken, through which you can use your bank account, debit card or (in certain instances) a credit card to purchase cryptocurrency. Once your cryptocurrency has been deposited into your digital wallet, you will then be able to use your public and private keys to transfer it and even make purchases from businesses that accept crypto as a form of payment.\nSome mainstream investment brokerages and online applications also allow users to purchase crypto through their platforms. Companies like Robinhood, CashApp, PayPal, Venmo and SoFi all allow limited buying and selling of certain digital currencies—mainly Bitcoin and Ether, along with some other alternative coins.\nHowever, one caveat to buying crypto through these mainstream investment apps is that since you're using an intermediary, you typically won't have access to a public and private key and won't be able to use the currency for purchases. This option is more for someone looking to invest in a digital currency for appreciation purposes, rather than for using the digital currency as a form of tangible payment. END