Bitcoin vs Everything
Pick a timeframe. See how Bitcoin performed against the S&P 500, gold, a savings account, and the dollar itself.
| Asset | Return | $100 became |
|---|---|---|
Why Compare Assets?
When you hold one asset, you skip another. Comparing returns across timeframes shows you which ones grew your purchasing power and which ones shrank it. Context matters: the 1-year winner often loses over 5 or 10 years, and vice versa.
Risk and Volatility
Bitcoin tops the return column but also the drawdown column. It has dropped 70%+ multiple times before recovering to new highs. The S&P 500 and gold swing less but return less over long periods. A savings account holds steady in dollar terms, yet inflation chips away at what those dollars actually buy, year after year.
Time Horizon Matters
Short timeframes amplify noise. The 1-year view might show gold ahead of Bitcoin. Stretch to 5 or 10 years and the rankings shift. If you zoom out far enough, the asset that looked like a loser often sits at the top of the table. How long you hold matters more than when you buy.
FAQ
Over most multi-year windows since 2013, Bitcoin returned more than the S&P 500. That came with 70%+ drawdowns along the way. Past returns tell you what happened, not what will happen next.
Holding cash costs you money. Inflation shrinks what each dollar can buy, every year. The dollar row puts a number on that loss so you can weigh it against the other options.
This scoreboard covers liquid assets you can buy with as little as $1. Real estate needs a large down payment and locks up your capital. Bonds carry a different risk/return profile worth looking at on their own.
The scoreboard shows returns. It does not tell you what to buy. How you split your money depends on how much volatility you can stomach, how long you plan to hold, and what you need the money for.