# Bitcoin's Limitations

While Bitcoin remains the gold standard of cryptocurrency, its architecture presents significant challenges:

**Speed Constraints** - Bitcoin processes approximately 7 transactions per second with 10-minute block times. This makes real-time payments impractical and creates network congestion during high-demand periods.

**High Transaction Fees** - During network congestion, Bitcoin fees can spike to $20-50+ per transaction, making it economically unviable for small purchases or frequent transfers.

**Limited Programmability** - Bitcoin's scripting language is intentionally limited, preventing the smart contract functionality that powers modern DeFi applications.

**Energy Consumption** - Bitcoin's Proof-of-Work consensus, while secure, consumes enormous energy resources, creating sustainability concerns.


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