🟢 Beginner
Bitcoin basics
6 min read
Bitcoin vs. crypto:
what's the difference?
People use the words interchangeably — but they're not the same thing. Understanding the difference makes everything else in this space much clearer.
The short version
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency. Crypto is a broader category.
Saying "Bitcoin and crypto" is like saying "New England clam chowder and soup." Clam chowder is soup — but soup covers a lot of things clam chowder isn't. Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency, invented in 2009. In the years since, thousands of others have been created. Together they're all "crypto," but they are not all Bitcoin, and Bitcoin is not all of them.
Hodl says
In the Bitcoin community, many people are very particular about this distinction. "Crypto" people hold a variety of coins. "Bitcoin maximalists" believe only Bitcoin matters and everything else is noise. OrangeTill accepts Bitcoin and the Lightning Network — the signal, not the noise.
What "crypto" actually means
"Crypto" is short for cryptocurrency — digital money that uses cryptography to secure transactions and control the creation of new units. Any digital currency using this approach is a cryptocurrency. Bitcoin was the first. Ethereum came in 2015. Since then, thousands more have launched — some useful, many not.
The coins that actually matter for merchants
Bitcoin (BTC)
The original
Launched 2009. Most widely held and recognized. Fixed supply of 21 million. Accepted by OrangeTill.
Ethereum (ETH)
Smart contracts
Second-largest cryptocurrency. A programmable platform that runs apps. Many stablecoins (like USDC) live on its network. Accepted by OrangeTill.
USDC / USDT
Stablecoins
Always worth $1. No volatility. Used by merchants who want crypto's speed and low fees without price risk. Accepted by OrangeTill.
Solana (SOL)
Fast network
Faster and cheaper than Ethereum. Popular for USDC transactions due to low fees. Accepted by OrangeTill.
Everything else
Proceed carefully
Thousands of altcoins exist. Most were created speculatively. Do your homework before accepting any coin not on a vetted list.
Why Bitcoin is treated differently
- No identifiable founder. Satoshi Nakamoto's identity is unknown and they hold no control. No CEO, no company, no foundation.
- Truly fixed supply. Exactly 21 million Bitcoin, written in code unchanged for 15+ years.
- Longest track record. Running continuously since January 2009 with no downtime and no successful network attacks.
- Most decentralized. The largest distributed network of any cryptocurrency.
"Bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency that solved the founder problem. Every other major coin has a team or foundation that could change the rules."
A common observation among crypto researchers
What this means for your business
You don't need to accept all crypto. Start with what your customers actually use. OrangeTill accepts Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. Set up your wallet in Settings and you're ready.
🛒 Where to start
Want simplicity? Accept Bitcoin over Lightning — instant, near-zero fees, no card processing.
Want zero price anxiety? Auto-convert each payment to dollars the moment it lands.
Want both? That's the default — Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, with auto-convert whenever you want it.
Is Ethereum a good payment option for merchants? ▼
ETH itself is volatile — similar to Bitcoin. More relevant: USDC on Ethereum is very practical. Network fees ("gas") can spike on the base layer, making small transactions expensive. USDC on Solana solves this for everyday payments.
Do I have to know about all the different coins to accept Bitcoin? ▼
No. You only need to know about the ones you choose to accept. OrangeTill curates the list to practical options. Start with one or two and expand from there.
Accept the coins your customers actually use.
OrangeTill accepts Bitcoin and the Lightning Network.
See pricing →
Go deeper
Understanding altcoins — and the people who built them