Discover Bitcoin’s fascinating journey from its inception to its latest highs and find out about its spectacular historic returns. Whether or not you are a seasoned investor or new to cryptocurrency, this text gives insights into Bitcoin’s milestones and the way it stacks up in opposition to different asset courses.
From its humble beginnings in 2008 to immediately, Bitcoin’s historical past has been comparatively quick however very eventful. The unique protocol for this common digital foreign money was created in 2008 by Satoshi Nakamoto, believed to be a pseudonym for an unknown developer or group of builders.
Nakamoto launched the Bitcoin community only a 12 months later and started mining the foreign money— an estimated 1 million bitcoins have been mined within the early years.
The creator(s) of this first-of-its-kind asset developed the cryptocurrency in response to the Great Recession of 2007-2009, spurred by a mistrust of the normal banking system and issues about its stability.
Given the latest values of Bitcoin, it’s arduous to consider the foreign money first began buying and selling on exchanges in 2010 at underneath $0.10. Since then, it’s skilled astronomical progress and a few fairly wild value swings.
At its most up-to-date excessive, one bitcoin was value over $64,000—a far cry from buying and selling for pennies in its earliest days.
Whether or not you’re considering of investing in Bitcoin otherwise you’ve held this cryptocurrency for a number of years, it’s enjoyable to look again at this groundbreaking asset’s historical past. Learn on for insights on Bitcoin milestones, historic returns, and the way its returns examine to these of different belongings.
Bitcoin Efficiency Milestones
Since being created, Bitcoin has skilled a number of milestones. Right here’s a glance again at among the most vital moments within the quick historical past of this cryptocurrency:
- In June 2011, Bitcoin noticed its first important value spike, climbing to a price of $29.60 (up from simply $0.30 in January) earlier than declining once more later that 12 months.
- The second half of 2013 marked one other main spike—from $68 on July 4th to $1,237 on December third earlier than declining once more.
- One in every of Bitcoin’s most vital will increase occurred in 2017, with its worth surging from round $1,000 in the beginning of the 12 months to $19,345 by mid-December.
- The Bitcoin hype cooled in 2018, leading to important declines—its lowest worth was round $3,232 in December of that 12 months.
- In 2019, Bitcoin noticed one other spike, hitting $13,813 on June twenty sixth earlier than declining.
- Bitcoin dropped by over 75% in 2022
- Bitcoin continues to hover across the $30k mark in 2023
Bitcoin Complete Return (10 12 months, 5 12 months, 3 Years, 1 12 months)
Whereas Bitcoin isn’t exempt from the volatility cryptocurrencies typically expertise, it’s delivered some spectacular returns through the years. Right here’s a take a look at Bitcoin’s annual returns from 2010 to 2022:
| Bitcoin 10-12 months Return Chart | |
| 12 months | Return (%) |
| 2011 | 1,473 |
| 2012 | 186 |
| 2013 | 5,507 |
| 2014 | -58 |
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2016 | 125 |
| 2017 | 1,331 |
| 2018 | -73 |
| 2019 | 95 |
| 2020 | 301 |
| 2021 | 90 |
| 2022 | -81.02 |
| 2023 |
And right here’s a take a look at month-to-month returns, in the event you really feel like getting a deeper dive:
| Bitcoin Month-to-month Returns | ||||||||||||
| 12 months | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | April | Might | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
| 2010 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 210.99% | N/A | 44.09% |
| 2011 | 73.33% | 65.38% | -8.77% | 346.09% | 149.71% | 84.21% | -17.08% | -38.58% | -37.32% | -36.77% | -8.62% | 58.92% |
| 2012 | 16.10% | -11.31% | N/A | N/A | 4.65% | 29.15% | 39.76% | 8.66% | 22.05% | -9.68% | 12.23% | 7.48% |
| 2013 | 51.07% | 63.55% | 178.70% | 49.66% | -7.48% | -24.31% | 8.92% | 32.76% | 0.64% | 48.82% | 470.94% | -33.15% |
| 2014 | 16.49% | -38.87% | -22.53% | 0.22% | 10.90% | 1.15% | -7.18% | -18.28% | -19.43% | -12.96% | 10.97 | -15.12% |
| 2015 | -31.34% | 16.27% | -3.90% | -3.43% | -2.52% | 14.91% | 7.42% | -19.12% | 2.82% | 31.92% | 21.44% | 13.75% |
| 2016 | -13.98% | 17.95% | -4.71% | 7.91% | 17.92% | 26.68% | -7.19% | -7.72% | 5.97% | 14.89% | 6.27% | 29.75% |
| 2017 | 0.22% | 23.18% | -9.26% | 25.28% | 70.38% | 7.70% | 16.23% | 64.23% | -7.91% | 47.94% | 54.18% | 39.25% |
| 2018 | -25.88% | 0.67% | -32.86% | 33.25% | -18.85% | -14.71% | 20.79% | -9% | -5.67% | -4.06% | -36.54% | -8.18% |
| 2019 | -7.34% | 11.04% | 7.49% | 29.70% | 60.85% | 36.41% | -6.81% | -4.84% | -13.65% | 10.48% | -17.55% | -4.64% |
| 2020 | 29.91% | -8.62% | -24.94% | 34.56% | 9.57% | -3.38% | 24.06% | 2.74% | -7.46% | 28.04% | 42.77% | 46.97% |
| 2021 | 14.37% | 36.41% | 30.11% | -1.78% | -35.38% | -6.09% | 18.63% | 13.42% | -7.02% | 39.90% | -7.22% | -18.75% |
| 2022 | -16.70% | 12.18% | 5.41% | -17.3% | -15.56% | -37.32% | 16.95% | -13.99% | -3.1% | 5.53% | -16.26% | -0.86% |
| 2023 | 39.83% | 0.02% | 23.1% | 2.73% | -6.96% | 11.97% | -4.07% | -11.29% | 3.91% | 28.52% | 8.81% | |
| 2024 |
Whereas Bitcoin has skilled some wild month-to-month value swings and a few years the place its worth has declined, you’ll be able to see that its declines have been eclipsed by some unbelievable beneficial properties. Now let’s discover how Bitcoin’s worth has modified over 10, 5, 3, and 1 years.
Bitcoin 10-12 months Return
Let’s say you obtain one bitcoin on August, third 2013, for $1,106.75, its value on the time. Should you held that one bitcoin till August third, 2023, it will’ve been value $29,310.44, and your complete ROI for the ten years could be 2,546.8%.
Bitcoin 5-12 months Return
We’ll additionally assume you bought one Bitcoin for this instance. A single bitcoin was valued at $965.31 on August, third, 2018, and its worth climbed to $29,310.44 by August 2023. Utilizing our calculation above, your complete ROI for these 5 years could be 294.1%.
Bitcoin 3-12 months Return
A single bitcoin was valued at $11,246.20 in August 2020, and its worth climbed to $29,310.44 on the finish of 2021. Your complete ROI for these three years could be 160.6%.
Bitcoin 1-12 months return
Should you bought a single bitcoin in August 2022, you’d’ve paid round $22,626.83. In a single 12 months, that worth would’ve elevated to $29,310.44. Your complete returns for that 12 months could be 29.54%.
Bitcoin Multi-12 months Returns In contrast
| Preliminary worth | Closing worth | ROI (%) | |
| 15 years (2008-2023) | $0.000764 | $29,310.44 | 3,839,387,524,500% |
| 10 years (2013-2023) | $1,106.75 | $29,310.44 | 2,546.8% |
| 5 years (2018-2023) | $7,438.67 | $29,310.44 | 294.1% |
| 3 years (2020-2023) | $11,246.20 | $29,310.44 | 160.6% |
| 1 12 months (2022-2023) | $22,626.83 | $29,310.44 | 29.54% |
How A lot You’d Have If You Invested $1,000 in Bitcoin 10, 5, 3, or 1 12 months In the past
As an alternative of shopping for one bitcoin, let’s say you determined to invest $1,000 into Bitcoin. Right here’s a take a look at how this $1,000 funding would’ve carried out in the event you purchased and held your Bitcoin for 10, 5, 3, and 1 years.
| Preliminary Worth | Variety of Bitcoins bought | Closing Worth | |
| 10 years (2013-2023) | $13.30 | 75.19 | $2,203,358.14 |
| 5 years (2018-2023) | $13,880 | 0.072 | $2,110.35 |
| 3 years (2020-2023) | $7,200 | 0.139 | $4,073.15 |
| 1 12 months (2022-2023) | $16,605.10 | 0.0602 | $1,765.11 |
Whereas Bitcoin’s earliest buyers would have benefitted probably the most from shopping for and holding their Bitcoin, those that’ve invested lately additionally fared effectively.
How Does Bitcoin Examine to Different Asset Lessons?
Should you’re curious how Bitcoin returns examine to these of different asset courses, right here’s how its annual and complete returns examine to gold, actual property, and the S&P 500.
(Spoiler alert: Bitcoin outperformed all three belongings by an infinite margin.)
Bitcoin vs. Gold
Should you examine Bitcoin’s returns to gold’s returns, you’ll discover a stark distinction. Bitcoin has a median annual return of 1,576% and a complete return of 18,912% from 2010 to 2022, whereas SPDR Gold Shares had a median annual return of simply 5.14% and a complete return of 61.67% over the identical interval.
| 12 months | Bitcoin Return (%) |
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) Return (%) |
| 2005 | – | 17.76 |
| 2006 | – | 22.55 |
| 2007 | – | 30.45 |
| 2008 | – | 4.92 |
| 2009 | – | 24.03 |
| 2010 | 9,900 | 29.27 |
| 2011 | 1,473 | 9.57 |
| 2012 | 186 | 6.6 |
| 2013 | 5,507 | -28.33 |
| 2014 | -58 | -2.19 |
| 2015 | 35 | -10.67 |
| 2016 | 125 | 8.03 |
| 2017 | 1,331 | 12.81 |
| 2018 | -73 | -1.94 |
| 2019 | 95 | 17.86 |
| 2020 | 301 | 24.81 |
| 2021 | 90 | -4.15 |
| 2022 | -81.02 | -0.77 |
| 2023 | 156.15 | 12.69 |
Bitcoin vs. Actual Property
Let’s see if actual property fared any higher in comparison with Bitcoin. The cryptocurrency delivered a whopping 1,576% common annual return and an 18,912% complete return from 2010 to 2021, whereas the Vanguard Real Estate ETF had a median annual return of 13.49% and a complete return of 161.91% over the identical interval.
So, actual property noticed barely greater returns than gold, but it surely nonetheless didn’t come near Bitcoin’s returns.
| 12 months | Bitcoin Return (%) |
Vanguard Actual Property ETF Return (%) |
| 2005 | – | 12 |
| 2006 | – | 35.2 |
| 2007 | – | -16.38 |
| 2008 | – | -36.98 |
| 2009 | – | 29.76 |
| 2010 | 9,900 | 28.44 |
| 2011 | 1,473 | 8.62 |
| 2012 | 186 | 17.67 |
| 2013 | 5,507 | 2.42 |
| 2014 | -58 | 30.29 |
| 2015 | 35 | 2.37 |
| 2016 | 125 | 8.53 |
| 2017 | 1,331 | 4.95 |
| 2018 | -73 | -5.95 |
| 2019 | 95 | 28.91 |
| 2020 | 301 | -4.72 |
| 2021 | 90 | 40.38 |
| 2022 | -81.02 | -26.21 |
| 2023 | 156.15 | 11.79% |
Bitcoin vs. S&P 500 (Inventory Market)
The S&P 500 didn’t fare too significantly better in its head-to-head with Bitcoin. From 2011 to 2023, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF delivered a median annual return of 15.74% and a complete return of 173.14%. Whereas these numbers aren’t too shabby, Bitcoin’s common annual return for a similar interval was a whopping 819%, and its complete return was 9,012%.
| 12 months | Bitcoin Return (%) |
VOO, Vanguard SP500 ETF Return (%) |
| 2011 | 1,473 | 2.09 |
| 2012 | 186 | 15.98 |
| 2013 | 5,507 | 32.33 |
| 2014 | -58 | 13.63 |
| 2015 | 35 | 1.35 |
| 2016 | 125 | 11.93 |
| 2017 | 1,331 | 21.78 |
| 2018 | -73 | -4.42 |
| 2019 | 95 | 31.46 |
| 2020 | 301 | 18.35 |
| 2021 | 90 | 28.66 |
| 2022 | -81.02 | -18.15 |
| 2023 | 156.15 | 26.33% |
How Does Bitcoin Examine to The Greatest Performing Shares?
We’ve analyzed how Bitcoin compares to gold, actual property, and the inventory market, however how does it stack up in opposition to among the best-performing shares? Right here’s how this common cryptocurrency stacks up in opposition to main corporations like Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, JP Morgan, Microsoft, Visa, and Walmart.
We appeared on the common annual and complete returns for every asset. This information assumes you obtain the asset in 2010 and held it till 2023.
| Asset | Common annual return (%) | Complete return (%) |
| Bitcoin | 1,576% | 18,912% |
| Amazon | 35.54% | 426.48% |
| Apple | 33.22% | 398.61% |
| Berkshire Hathaway | 14.31% | 171.76% |
| JP Morgan | 13.53% | 162.40% |
| Microsoft | 23.92% | 287.04% |
| Visa | 23.10% | 277.37% |
| Walmart | 10.08% | 120.94% |
The Backside Line – Bitcoin Historic Returns
Whereas some buyers could also be skeptical about cryptocurrency, citing issues over market volatility and a excessive threat of loss, Bitcoin’s efficiency over time paints a rosy image. With its longevity and astronomically excessive returns, Bitcoin has been definitely worth the threat for a lot of buyers—particularly early adopters.
In fact, historic efficiency doesn’t assure future returns. So in the event you’re contemplating investing in cryptocurrency, solely make investments what you’ll be able to afford to lose.
