Part 3/6:
Andreas draws an analogy by comparing Bitcoin to a shark and Ethereum to a human: "Bitcoin has traits suited to being a reserve currency and a medium of exchange, characterized by limited issuance—specifically, the 21 million coin cap." This trait isn’t just a design choice but a core part of Bitcoin’s identity, akin to a birth certificate that defines what it is.
Ethereum, on the other hand, is centered on enabling smart contracts and maintaining a state to facilitate complex decentralized applications. Its core trait is flexible programmability rather than fixed monetary policy. Andreas emphasizes that certain features—like smart contracts—are intrinsic to Ethereum's identity and are unlikely to change, whereas other features, including monetary policy, are more adaptable.