Bitcoin and Ethereum are the two most popular cryptocurrencies used at online casinos. But they have different characteristics that can significantly affect your gambling experience — from deposit speed to transaction fees to privacy. Let's compare them honestly.
| Factor | Bitcoin (BTC) | Ethereum (ETH) |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Confirmation Time | 10-60 minutes | 15-30 seconds |
| Transaction Fees | $1-5 (varies) | $0.50-10 (varies with gas) |
| Casino Support | Universal (every crypto casino) | Nearly universal |
| Privacy | Pseudonymous | Pseudonymous |
| Layer 2 Options | Lightning Network | Arbitrum, Optimism, etc. |
| Price Volatility | High | High |
Winner: Ethereum
This is where Ethereum has a clear advantage. Ethereum blocks are produced roughly every 12-15 seconds, and most casinos credit deposits after just a few confirmations. Bitcoin blocks come every ~10 minutes on average, and casinos typically require 1-3 confirmations, meaning you could wait 10-30 minutes for a deposit to land.
However, both networks now have Layer 2 solutions that can dramatically speed things up:
Winner: Depends on network conditions
Both Bitcoin and Ethereum fees fluctuate based on network congestion. During calm periods, both can be quite cheap. During high-traffic events, both can spike significantly.
As a general rule in 2026:
If fees are your primary concern, look into whether your casino supports Lightning Network (for BTC) or L2 deposits (for ETH). Check our withdrawal times guide for more details on each casino's supported networks.
Winner: Bitcoin (slightly)
Every crypto casino accepts Bitcoin. It's the default. Ethereum is supported by nearly all major casinos, but Bitcoin remains the most universally accepted cryptocurrency for gambling.
That said, all seven casinos we review on BetProof.io — BC.Game, Stake, Cloudbet, Rollbit, Shuffle, BetFury, and Vave — accept both BTC and ETH. See our full reviews for specifics on supported cryptocurrencies.
Winner: Neither (both are pseudonymous)
A common misconception is that crypto gambling is anonymous. It's not. Both Bitcoin and Ethereum use public blockchains — every transaction is visible to anyone who knows your address.
The key differences:
If privacy is paramount, neither BTC nor ETH on their base layers provides true anonymity. Some players use privacy-focused coins like Monero for deposits, though fewer casinos support them. BC.Game is one exception that supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies.
Both BTC and ETH are volatile assets. This creates an often-overlooked dynamic in crypto gambling: your bankroll's value changes even when you're not playing.
Consider this scenario: You deposit 0.1 ETH when ETH is worth $3,000. You play for a week, break even in ETH terms. But ETH dropped to $2,500. You've effectively lost $50 in dollar terms without losing a single bet.
The reverse can also happen — your holdings could appreciate. But it's important to be aware of this dynamic.
If volatility concerns you: Many casinos also accept stablecoins (USDT, USDC) which maintain a steady dollar value. This lets you gamble without the added variable of crypto price movements.
Here's our straightforward recommendation: