Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency in the world, with a total market cap of over $2 trillion and millions of investors around the world.
But while Bitcoin is still the clear leader in the digital asset sector, investors have seen huge fluctuations over the past decade. Once worth a penny, Bitcoin has become a global phenomenon, a speculative bubble and now, some argue, a legitimate store of value.
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Here’s how Bitcoin has performed over the past 10 years, and how much $100 invested in Bitcoin a decade ago would be worth today.
Why did Bitcoin go up, then go down?
Bitcoin was created by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009 as the first decentralized digital currency. But Bitcoin didn’t begin to enter mainstream awareness until the mid-2010s.
In 2015, Bitcoin was trading around $330 per coin. It was still considered experimental at the time, used primarily by tech enthusiasts and early adopters who believed in the potential of blockchain technology.
As more crypto exchanges launched, including Coinbase, and global acceptance grew, the price of Bitcoin began to climb. By the end of 2017, Bitcoin reached almost $20,000 per coin – a tremendous increase that caught the attention of the entire world.
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But it could not last. The following year, Bitcoin lost nearly 80% and fell below $4,000 as the bubble burst. Then came the pandemic. Between March 2020 and November 2021, the price of Bitcoin rose from $5,000 to over $68,000 due to record money printing, low interest rates, and institutional investors entering the sector.
The situation changed again in 2022. Bitcoin fell more than 70% from its all-time high due to rising interest rates, global uncertainty, and several high-profile crypto collapses (including FTX). Many investors wrote it off completely.
Fast forward to 2025, Bitcoin has once again surprised everyone, rising from more than $100,000 per coin to $120,000 per BTC.
You invested $100 in Bitcoin 10 years ago, what would it be worth today?
If you invested $100 in Bitcoin 10 years ago (late 2015), when it was around $330 per coin, you would have owned about 0.303 BTC.
At today’s price of $102,000 per Bitcoin, your investment would now be worth $30,906. This is a 309x return over 10 years, turning a hundred dollars into over thirty thousand dollars.
Even if you only invested $10, you would be sitting on over $3,000 today.
Bitcoin has outperformed almost every major stock or asset class over the same period. For comparison, the S&P 500 has returned about 907% over the past decade, while Bitcoin has returned more than 30,000%.
Should you buy Bitcoin today?
Bitcoin has a history of being one of the most volatile and attractive modern investments. But the question now is, is Bitcoin still a good investment in 2025?
Bitcoin has matured significantly over the past few years. Institutional adoption is on the rise, with companies like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Vanguard offering Bitcoin ETFs, and corporations like MicroStrategy holding billions of dollars in BTC.
Still, there are serious dangers. Bitcoin does not generate income, it is highly volatile and its price can fluctuate by thousands of dollars in a single week. And while regulation is improving, governments around the world continue to debate how to classify and tax cryptocurrencies.
But the long-term case for Bitcoin remains strong:
- Shortage:Only 21 million BTC will remain in existence.
- decentralization: No government or central bank controls it.
- Adoption: Every year more businesses and payment platforms accept it.
Right now, Bitcoin trades like a store of value, with some calling it a kind of “digital gold.” It is becoming a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation in some countries and a long-term savings tool for investors around the world.
Investors should limit risks, he said. Most financial experts recommend allocating 1% to 5% of your portfolio to Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, depending on your risk tolerance.
How to Invest in Bitcoin Safely
If you’re considering buying Bitcoin today, here’s how to do it right:
- Use a Reputable Exchange. Platforms like Coinbase, Swan Bitcoin or Fidelity are secure and beginner-friendly.
- start small. Set up automated purchases with dollar-cost averaging (DCA) to reduce volatility over time.
- store it safely. Once your balance increases, move your Bitcoins to a hardware wallet (like Ledger or Trezor) for long-term security.
- plan to hold. Bitcoin works best as a long-term investment, not as a get-rich-quick business.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: If You Bought Bitcoin 10 Years Ago at Today’s Price, What Would You Have Now
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