Bitcoin vs T-bills
Since Aug 2015, $10,000 in Bitcoin grew to $3,196,362 (68.3% a year) and $10,000 in Treasury bills to $12,739 (2.2% a year). Try your own amount and dates, or add more assets.
Real monthly data through Sep 2026, updated monthly. How we calculate$10,000 put into Bitcoin in Aug 2015 is now worth
Bitcoin came out on top, 250.9× Treasury bills, which reached $12,739. Just keeping up with prices needed $14,056, and 1 of 2 did better.
Full results by asset
| Asset | Worth now | Per year | Total return | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | $3,196,362 | 68.3% | 31,864% | −76% (Feb 2019) |
| T-bills | $12,739 | 2.2% | 27% | none |
The chart uses a log scale: equal steps up mean equal percentage gains. What each line measures: Bitcoin, Bitcoin monthly average of daily closing prices on Coinbase, in US dollars; T-bills, interest on 3-month US Treasury bills, a stand-in for cash in a money market fund. Inflation uses the US Consumer Price Index. Monthly averages, data through Sep 2026; no fees or taxes. Past returns do not predict future returns.
Which has done better?
Over the whole period both have data, since Aug 2015, Bitcoin came out ahead with 68.3% a year against 2.2%. Over the last 10 years the lead went to Bitcoin. Starting dates matter: across all 74 5-year stretches in the data, Bitcoin beat Treasury bills 100% of the time.
| Period | Bitcoin | T-bills |
|---|---|---|
| Last year | -28.9% | 3.7% |
| Last 5 years | 11.9% | 3.8% |
| Last 10 years | 63.0% | 2.4% |
| Since 2015 | 68.3% | 2.2% |
Yearly return, to Sep 2026. The higher one in each row is green.
Investing a little every month
$100 a month from Sep 2016 to Sep 2026 is 121 buys and $12,100 in total. In Bitcoin it would now be worth $146,176; in Treasury bills, $14,180. Monthly buying spreads the entry price, which matters most for the more volatile of the two.
Which is riskier?
The deepest fall from a high was 76% for Bitcoin, around Feb 2019, and 0% for Treasury bills, around Aug 2015. Bitcoin asked more patience of its owners. These use monthly averages, so the worst single days were a little deeper.
What the numbers measure
- Bitcoin: Bitcoin monthly average of daily closing prices on Coinbase, in US dollars.
- T-bills: interest on 3-month US Treasury bills, a stand-in for cash in a money market fund.
No fees or taxes are included. Past returns do not predict future returns.
Common questions
Bitcoin or T-bills: which has been the better investment?
Since Aug 2015, Bitcoin has returned more: 68.3% a year against 2.2% for Treasury bills. Over the last 10 years, Bitcoin came out ahead. Across every 5-year stretch in the data, Bitcoin beat Treasury bills 100% of the time, so the answer depends heavily on when you start.
Which is riskier, Bitcoin or Treasury bills?
By the deepest fall from a high, Bitcoin: Bitcoin dropped as much as 76% (around Feb 2019) and Treasury bills as much as 0% (around Aug 2015), using monthly averages.
How much would $10,000 in Bitcoin be worth today?
$10,000 put into Bitcoin in Aug 2015 would be worth about $3,196,362 by Sep 2026. The same money in Treasury bills would be about $12,739. Change the amount and dates in the calculator to see any period.
What if I invested monthly in Bitcoin or Treasury bills?
$100 a month from Sep 2016 to Sep 2026 adds up to $12,100. In Bitcoin it would now be about $146,176; in Treasury bills, about $14,180.
FatDCA comparisons are educational estimates, not investment, tax or legal advice.
Get one comparison like this every week
- 1chart from real data
- 1idea in plain English
- 1thing to do this week