What it became by Sep 2026
Side by side
| Measure | Gold | Bitcoin |
|---|---|---|
| Start (Sep 2016) | $1,327 | $606 |
| End (Sep 2026) | $4,319 | $80,473 |
| Growth per year | +12.5% | +63.0% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12% | 61% |
| Worst fall from a peak | -19% | -76% |
| Worst 12 months | -9% | -76% |
| Best 12 months | +75% | +1741% |
| 12-month periods with a loss | 24% | 31% |
Monthly average prices. Daily highs and lows were more extreme than these averages show. Fees, spreads, storage and taxes are ignored.
Gold and Bitcoin prices each Sep
| Month | Gold | Change | Bitcoin | Change | 1 BTC in gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2016 | $1,327 | $606 | 0.5 oz | ||
| Sep 2017 | $1,314 | -1% | $4,102 | +577% | 3.1 oz |
| Sep 2018 | $1,198 | -9% | $6,590 | +61% | 5.5 oz |
| Sep 2019 | $1,511 | +26% | $9,792 | +49% | 6.5 oz |
| Sep 2020 | $1,922 | +27% | $10,647 | +9% | 5.5 oz |
| Sep 2021 | $1,775 | -8% | $45,927 | +331% | 25.9 oz |
| Sep 2022 | $1,681 | -5% | $19,793 | -57% | 11.8 oz |
| Sep 2023 | $1,916 | +14% | $26,306 | +33% | 13.7 oz |
| Sep 2024 | $2,571 | +34% | $60,338 | +129% | 23.5 oz |
| Sep 2025 | $3,668 | +43% | $113,171 | +88% | 30.9 oz |
| Sep 2026 | $4,319 | +18% | $80,473 | -29% | 18.6 oz |
What the last 10 years do and do not tell you
Bitcoin won the decade, but most of the gain came early, from a $606 starting price. A window that started at a later peak would look very different. Since Bitcoin peaked at 37.1 ounces of gold in Dec 2024, gold has done better.
Bitcoin also fell 76% from a peak inside this window, even on monthly averages. Gold's worst fall was 19%. Which asset fits depends on how much of a fall you can sit through, not only on the return.
For where the next 10 years could go, see the gold vs Bitcoin price prediction for 2030, 2036 and 2040. For today's live numbers, see gold vs Bitcoin market cap.
Common questions
Did gold or Bitcoin do better over the last 10 years?
Bitcoin, by a wide margin. From Sep 2016 to Sep 2026, Bitcoin's monthly average went from $606 to $80,473 (133x). Gold went from $1,327 to $4,319 (3.3x).
What would $1,000 in gold vs Bitcoin 10 years ago be worth now?
About $3,255 in gold and $132,733 in Bitcoin, using monthly average prices and ignoring fees, spreads, storage and taxes.
Which was riskier?
Bitcoin. Its worst fall from a peak in this window was 76%, against 19% for gold, and its annualized volatility was 61% against 12%.
Did gold beat Bitcoin over any recent period?
Yes. Bitcoin priced in gold peaked at 37.1 ounces in Dec 2024 and was 18.6 ounces in Sep 2026, so gold outperformed Bitcoin over that stretch.
Will the next 10 years look like the last 10?
Probably not for Bitcoin. Repeating its last 10 years would put it in the tens of millions of dollars by 2036. Our prediction page shows how much the answer depends on which past window you assume repeats.