Ethereum vs Bonds
Since Jun 2016, $10,000 in Ethereum grew to $1,463,349 (63.3% a year) and $10,000 in 10-year Treasury bonds to $10,226 (0.2% a year). Try your own amount and dates, or add more assets.
Real monthly data through Aug 2026, updated monthly. How we calculate$10,000 put into Ethereum in Jun 2016 is now worth
Ethereum came out on top, 143.1× 10-year Treasury bonds, which reached $10,226. Just keeping up with prices needed $13,899, and 1 of 2 did better. It ends in Aug 2026, the latest month with data for Bonds.
Full results by asset
| Asset | Worth now | Per year | Total return | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethereum | $1,463,349 | 63.3% | 14,533% | −90% (Dec 2018) |
| Bonds | $10,226 | 0.2% | 2% | −25% (Oct 2023) |
The chart uses a log scale: equal steps up mean equal percentage gains. What each line measures: Ethereum, Ethereum monthly average of daily closing prices on Coinbase, in US dollars (staking rewards not included); Bonds, total return of 10-year US Treasury bonds (interest plus price changes), modelled from the monthly 10-year yield. Inflation uses the US Consumer Price Index. Monthly averages, data through Aug 2026; no fees or taxes. Past returns do not predict future returns.
Which has done better?
Over the whole period both have data, since Jun 2016, Ethereum came out ahead with 63.3% a year against 0.2%. Over the last 10 years the lead went to Ethereum. Starting dates matter: across all 63 5-year stretches in the data, Ethereum beat 10-year Treasury bonds 94% of the time.
| Period | Ethereum | Bonds |
|---|---|---|
| Last year | -50.1% | 0.9% |
| Last 5 years | -7.3% | -2.2% |
| Last 10 years | 69.0% | 0.1% |
| Since 2016 | 63.3% | 0.2% |
Yearly return, to Aug 2026. The higher one in each row is green.
Investing a little every month
$100 a month from Aug 2016 to Aug 2026 is 121 buys and $12,100 in total. In Ethereum it would now be worth $195,828; in 10-year Treasury bonds, $12,249. 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 90% for Ethereum, around Dec 2018, and 25% for 10-year Treasury bonds, around Oct 2023. Ethereum asked more patience of its owners. These use monthly averages, so the worst single days were a little deeper.
What the numbers measure
- Ethereum: Ethereum monthly average of daily closing prices on Coinbase, in US dollars (staking rewards not included).
- Bonds: total return of 10-year US Treasury bonds (interest plus price changes), modelled from the monthly 10-year yield.
No fees or taxes are included. Past returns do not predict future returns.
Common questions
Ethereum or bonds: which has been the better investment?
Since Jun 2016, Ethereum has returned more: 63.3% a year against 0.2% for 10-year Treasury bonds. Over the last 10 years, Ethereum came out ahead. Across every 5-year stretch in the data, Ethereum beat 10-year Treasury bonds 94% of the time, so the answer depends heavily on when you start.
Which is riskier, Ethereum or 10-year Treasury bonds?
By the deepest fall from a high, Ethereum: Ethereum dropped as much as 90% (around Dec 2018) and 10-year Treasury bonds as much as 25% (around Oct 2023), using monthly averages.
How much would $10,000 in Ethereum be worth today?
$10,000 put into Ethereum in Jun 2016 would be worth about $1,463,349 by Aug 2026. The same money in 10-year Treasury bonds would be about $10,226. Change the amount and dates in the calculator to see any period.
What if I invested monthly in Ethereum or 10-year Treasury bonds?
$100 a month from Aug 2016 to Aug 2026 adds up to $12,100. In Ethereum it would now be about $195,828; in 10-year Treasury bonds, about $12,249.
FatDCA comparisons are educational estimates, not investment, tax or legal advice.
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