Bitcoin vs S&P 500: Which Was the Better Investment?
A $10,000 investment in Bitcoin in 2014 would be worth $1.67 million as of August 2026, versus $39,269 for S&P 500 — Bitcoin came out ahead over this period, based on real historical price data.
This compares Bitcoin and S&P 500 over the exact same window — $10,000 invested in each at the start of 2014 and held to today, about 12 years. Over that stretch Bitcoin came out ahead, ending roughly 42.5× higher than S&P 500. The chart and table below show how the gap opened up year by year, all from real historical closing prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Bitcoin or S&P 500 performed better historically?
Over the period both have traded (2014–today, about 12 years), Bitcoin was the stronger performer: a $10,000 investment grew to $1.67 million, versus $39,269 for S&P 500. This is measured from real historical prices over their common history, so both assets are compared over the exact same window.
How much would $10,000 in Bitcoin vs S&P 500 be worth today?
Starting in 2014, $10,000 in Bitcoin would be worth $1.67 million today (166.7× your money, about 53.6% a year), while the same amount in S&P 500 would be worth $39,269 (3.9×, about 12.2% a year).
Does past performance mean Bitcoin is the better investment going forward?
No. This comparison shows what already happened, not what will happen. Past returns don't predict future results, and the winner over one period can lag badly over another — especially higher-volatility assets, which can swing sharply in both directions. Use it to understand history, not as a forecast.
How is the Bitcoin vs S&P 500 comparison calculated?
Both start with the same amount on the same date and are grown forward using each asset's real monthly closing prices over the window they share, so the two lines are always directly comparable. No contributions, fees, or taxes are modeled — it's a clean like-for-like lump-sum comparison.