Bitcoin vs gold over 10 years
How has Bitcoin performed against gold over the last 10 years?
Scenario summary
Over the 10 years from June 2016 to June 2026, Bitcoin returned 10815% (59.9% a year) versus 230% (12.7% a year) for gold, based on monthly closes; Bitcoin's worst peak-to-trough decline in that window was -78% compared with -16% for gold.
Computed from data through June 2026. Updates when the dataset updates.
Inputs
- Period
- June 2016 – June 2026 (10 years)
- Data frequency
- Monthly closes
- Starting amount
- $10,000 in each
- Gold basis
- Spot price, USD/oz
Result
- Bitcoin total return
- 10815%
- Gold total return
- 230%
- Bitcoin annualised (CAGR)
- 59.9%
- Gold annualised (CAGR)
- 12.7%
- Bitcoin max drawdown
- -78%
- Gold max drawdown
- -16%
- $10,000 in Bitcoin became
- $1,091,485
- $10,000 in Gold became
- $33,018
Interpretation
Gold's shallower drawdowns reflect its role as a low-volatility reserve; Bitcoin's outperformance came through repeated deep declines.
Methodology
Total return and CAGR from the first and last monthly close in the window; maximum drawdown as the largest peak-to-trough decline in monthly closes. Full methodology.
Assumptions
- Buy and hold, no rebalancing
- Gold spot price in USD per ounce; no storage costs
- Monthly closes
Limitations
- Ignores storage and custody costs for both assets
- Monthly data hides intra-month extremes
- Ten-year window is one sample, not a forecast
Data source
Monthly closes for Bitcoin, gold and the S&P 500 (bundled BTC Tools dataset)