Ethereum vs T-bills
Since Jun 2016, $10,000 in Ethereum grew to $1,769,075 (65.7% a year) and $10,000 in Treasury bills to $12,719 (2.4% 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 Ethereum in Jun 2016 is now worth
Ethereum came out on top, 139.1× Treasury bills, which reached $12,719. Just keeping up with prices needed $13,899, and 1 of 2 did better.
Full results by asset
| Asset | Worth now | Per year | Total return | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethereum | $1,769,075 | 65.7% | 17,591% | −90% (Dec 2018) |
| T-bills | $12,719 | 2.4% | 27% | none |
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); 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 Jun 2016, Ethereum came out ahead with 65.7% a year against 2.4%. Over the last 10 years the lead went to Ethereum. Starting dates matter: across all 64 5-year stretches in the data, Ethereum beat Treasury bills 91% of the time.
| Period | Ethereum | T-bills |
|---|---|---|
| Last year | -41.0% | 3.7% |
| Last 5 years | -5.2% | 3.8% |
| Last 10 years | 70.3% | 2.4% |
| Since 2016 | 65.7% | 2.4% |
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 Ethereum it would now be worth $213,908; 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 90% for Ethereum, around Dec 2018, and 0% for Treasury bills, around Jun 2016. 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).
- 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
Ethereum or T-bills: which has been the better investment?
Since Jun 2016, Ethereum has returned more: 65.7% a year against 2.4% for Treasury bills. Over the last 10 years, Ethereum came out ahead. Across every 5-year stretch in the data, Ethereum beat Treasury bills 91% of the time, so the answer depends heavily on when you start.
Which is riskier, Ethereum or Treasury bills?
By the deepest fall from a high, Ethereum: Ethereum dropped as much as 90% (around Dec 2018) and Treasury bills as much as 0% (around Jun 2016), 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 $1,769,075 by Sep 2026. The same money in Treasury bills would be about $12,719. Change the amount and dates in the calculator to see any period.
What if I invested monthly in Ethereum or Treasury bills?
$100 a month from Sep 2016 to Sep 2026 adds up to $12,100. In Ethereum it would now be about $213,908; in Treasury bills, about $14,180.
FatDCA comparisons are educational estimates, not investment, tax or legal advice.
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