BTC vs KAS: Bitcoin vs Kaspa — 2026 Comparison
This page compares Bitcoin (BTC) and Kaspa (KAS) using the DeFi Intel research dataset. Native asset of the Bitcoin blockchain. First and largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Proof-of-work secured with a hard-capped supply of 21 million coins. Native asset of Kaspa, a proof-of-work BlockDAG L1 based on the GHOSTDAG protocol that allows parallel blocks to coexist in consensus. Fair-launched in 2021 with no pre-mine, ICO, or VC allocation. Targets very high block rates with a 28.7 billion coin emission cap. As of the last data review, BTC ranks #1 by approximate market capitalisation (≈$1.3T) and KAS ranks #81 (≈$0.8B).
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Bitcoin (BTC) | Kaspa (KAS) |
|---|---|---|
| Market-cap rank | #1 | #81 |
| Approx market cap (USD) | $1.3T | $0.8B |
| Category | Layer 1 | Layer 1 |
| Chain(s) | Bitcoin | Kaspa |
| Token standard | native | native |
| Launched | January 2009 | November 2021 |
| Consensus role | PoW | PoW |
| Issuer type | Decentralized (no single issuer) | Decentralized (no single issuer) |
| Total supply | 21,000,000 | 27,600,000,000 |
| Circulating supply | 20,060,000 | 27,500,000,000 |
| Max supply | 21,000,000 | 28,700,000,000 |
Bitcoin (BTC) in brief
- Native asset of the Bitcoin blockchain. First and largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Proof-of-work secured with a hard-capped supply of 21 million coins.
- Launched January 2009.
- Chain-native asset of Bitcoin.
- Max supply: 21,000,000.
Full profile: Bitcoin (BTC) token page.
Kaspa (KAS) in brief
- Native asset of Kaspa, a proof-of-work BlockDAG L1 based on the GHOSTDAG protocol that allows parallel blocks to coexist in consensus. Fair-launched in 2021 with no pre-mine, ICO, or VC allocation. Targets very high block rates with a 28.7 billion coin emission cap.
- Launched November 2021.
- Chain-native asset of Kaspa.
- Max supply: 28,700,000,000.
Full profile: Kaspa (KAS) token page.
Key differences (data view)
- BTC is the larger asset by market capitalisation: rank #1 (≈$1.3T) versus rank #81 (≈$0.8B) for KAS.
- BTC is the older asset — launched in 2009, 12 years before KAS (2021).
- They live on different chains — BTC: Bitcoin; KAS: Kaspa.
- Both are classified as Layer 1 assets in the DeFi Intel dataset.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, BTC or KAS?
Bitcoin (BTC) is larger by market capitalisation: approximately $1.3T (rank #1) versus $0.8B (rank #81) for KAS, as of the last DeFi Intel data review.
When did Bitcoin and Kaspa launch?
Bitcoin launched in January 2009; Kaspa launched in November 2021.
Are BTC and KAS on the same chain?
No. BTC is on Bitcoin, while KAS is on Kaspa.
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- Bitcoin (BTC) token profile
- Kaspa (KAS) token profile
- All DeFi Intel comparisons →
Methodology & sources
Every figure on this page is drawn from the DeFi Intel token research dataset — the same data that powers the BTC and KAS token profiles. Market capitalisations and supply figures are approximate snapshots from the last dataset review, not live quotes; market capitalisations, ranks and supply figures were last cross-checked against live CoinGecko API data on 2026-07-15. DeFi Intel publishes editorial research, not financial advice.