BigchainDB vs Ethereum: What are the differences?

# Introduction
Key differences between BigchainDB and Ethereum are outlined below:

1. **Consensus Mechanism**: BigchainDB utilizes a consensus model known as Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT), where transactions are validated by a selected group of nodes, whereas Ethereum uses the Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, which requires miners to solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate transactions.

2. **Scale and Performance**: BigchainDB is designed for high throughput and low latency applications, capable of processing thousands of transactions per second, while Ethereum, in its current state, struggles with scalability issues, often experiencing network congestion and slower transaction speeds.

3. **Data Model**: BigchainDB focuses on storing and managing large volumes of data efficiently, making it ideal for applications that require data-intensive operations, whereas Ethereum primarily serves as a decentralized platform for executing smart contracts and building decentralized applications (dApps).

4. **Governance and Control**: In BigchainDB, users have greater control over the network as they can set up their own private instances, customize consensus algorithms, and manage permissions, whereas Ethereum operates on a public blockchain with decisions made by the community through consensus protocols.

5. **Smart Contract Functionality**: While both platforms support smart contracts, Ethereum's programming language, Solidity, is more established and widely used for developing complex smart contracts, whereas BigchainDB focuses on integrating smart contracts with traditional database functionalities, offering more flexibility in data handling.

6. **Token Economics**: Ethereum has its native cryptocurrency, Ether, which serves as a means of transacting value and paying for network fees, whereas BigchainDB does not have a native token and instead focuses on facilitating the storage and management of digital assets on the blockchain.

In Summary, a few key differences between BigchainDB and Ethereum lie in their consensus mechanisms, scalability, data management approaches, governance structures, smart contract functionalities, and token economics.