Crypto vs gold vs S&P 500 calculator
Pick a coin, an amount and a start date to see what the same money would be worth today in that coin, in gold and in the S&P 500. Invest it all at once or spread it over monthly purchases.
Investing $1,000 in Bitcoin on Jan 1, 2021 would be worth $2,660 today (+166%). The same money in gold would be worth $2,057 (+105.7%), and in the S&P 500 $2,018 (+101.8%). Bitcoin did best over this period.
Bitcoin$2,660+166%
Gold$2,057+105.7%
S&P 500$2,018+101.8%
- Total invested
- $1,000
- 1 BTC in gold
- 20.0648 oz
Year by year
| Date | Bitcoin | Gold | S&P 500 | Invested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2021 | $1,571 | $964.91 | $1,269 | $1,000 |
| Dec 31, 2022 | $562.01 | $963.64 | $1,022 | $1,000 |
| Dec 31, 2023 | $1,438 | $1,093 | $1,270 | $1,000 |
| Dec 31, 2024 | $3,174 | $1,394 | $1,566 | $1,000 |
| Dec 31, 2025 | $2,975 | $2,291 | $1,823 | $1,000 |
| Nov 1, 2026 | $2,660 | $2,057 | $2,018 | $1,000 |
How the comparison works
Every asset is bought on the same days with the same amount, using daily closing prices. A one-time investment buys on the start date. A monthly plan buys on the same day each month, so all three end with the same total invested.
Coin prices come from Coinbase. Gold is the COMEX gold futures price and the S&P 500 is the index level, both from Yahoo Finance. The index here leaves out dividends, which have added roughly 1.5% to 2% a year, so a real S&P 500 fund would have done somewhat better. Taxes, fees and storage costs are not included.
Putting a plan like this into practice
Kraken
Coinbase
Ledger
TrezorWe may earn a commission if you sign up through these links, at no cost to you. It never changes the numbers above. Disclosure.
More free crypto tools
- DCA calculatorBacktest buying a coin on a schedule with real daily prices.
- If you had investedWhat $1,000 in a coin would be worth today, for every year since it listed.
- Bitcoin retirement calculatorProject what monthly buys could be worth by retirement, and the income.
- Savings goal calculatorHow long monthly buys take to reach a goal, like 0.1 BTC.
- Staking calculatorHow staking rewards compound over the years.
- Profit calculatorProfit or loss on a trade, with fees and the break-even price.
Questions
Has Bitcoin beaten gold?
Over most multi-year periods since 2015 it has, by a wide margin, but with far bigger swings. Bitcoin has fallen more than 70% several times, while gold's worst drops have been much smaller. Short periods can go either way.
What does "1 BTC in gold" mean?
It is the price of one coin divided by the price of one troy ounce of gold. It shows the coin's value in gold rather than dollars, which some people use to see past inflation and currency moves.
Why compare crypto with the S&P 500?
The S&P 500 is the most common benchmark for long-term investing. Comparing against it shows whether the extra risk of crypto was rewarded over the period you choose.