What is the Bitcoin Price Time Machine?
The Bitcoin Price Time Machine lets you see what your investment would be worth today if you had bought Bitcoin on any date in the past. Enter an amount in USD and a historical date to calculate your hypothetical returns.
Whether you're curious about what would have happened if you bought during the 2017 bull run, the COVID crash, or any other point in Bitcoin's history, this calculator shows you the exact returns you would have earned.
How Does It Work?
The calculator uses historical Bitcoin price data to determine how much BTC you would have received for your investment on any given date. It then multiplies that amount by today's current price to show your hypothetical portfolio value.
BTC Purchased = Investment Amount / Historical BTC PriceCurrent Value = BTC Purchased × Current BTC PriceFor example, if you "invested" $100 when Bitcoin was $10,000, you would have purchased 0.01 BTC. If Bitcoin is now $100,000, your 0.01 BTC would be worth $1,000 - a 10x return!
Bitcoin's Historical Price Journey
Bitcoin has experienced one of the most remarkable price appreciation stories in financial history. From essentially zero in 2009 to over $100,000 in 2024, early adopters saw returns that seem almost impossible in traditional markets.
- 2009: Bitcoin is created, no market price
- 2010: First real transaction - 10,000 BTC for two pizzas
- 2011: Bitcoin reaches $1, then $31, then crashes to $2
- 2013: First major bull run to $1,100
- 2017: The ICO boom pushes BTC to nearly $20,000
- 2020: COVID crash to $5,000, then institutional adoption begins
- 2021: All-time high of ~$69,000
- 2022: Bear market, bottom at ~$16,000
- 2024: Bitcoin ETF approval, new all-time highs
When Was the Best Time to Buy Bitcoin?
Hindsight is 20/20, but some dates stand out as particularly good entry points:
- Any date before 2013: Bitcoin was under $100, leading to potential 1,000x+ returns by today.
- March 2020 (COVID crash): Bitcoin dropped to ~$5,000 before recovering to new highs within a year.
- December 2018: The bottom of the 2018 bear market at ~$3,200.
- November 2022: Post-FTX crash bottom at ~$16,000.
Of course, nobody knows where the next bottom will be. The common wisdom is that "the best time to buy Bitcoin was 10 years ago; the second best time is now."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this calculator accurate?
This calculator uses historical Bitcoin price data from CoinGecko, which is highly reliable for dates from 2013 onwards. For exact trade execution prices, there may be small variations due to exchange differences and bid-ask spreads.
Why can't I select dates before 2013?
Reliable price data from major exchanges begins around April 2013. Before that, Bitcoin traded on informal markets and had limited price discovery. Early 2009-2012 prices are estimated at fractions of a penny to a few dollars.
What if I invested $100 when Bitcoin launched?
Bitcoin had no market price when it launched in 2009. The first known transaction valued 10,000 BTC at two pizzas. If you could have bought at $0.001 per BTC (the 2010 estimate), $100 would have bought you 100,000 BTC - worth billions today!
Does this account for taxes?
No. This calculator shows gross returns before taxes. In most countries, Bitcoin gains are taxable as capital gains. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Should I buy Bitcoin now?
This tool is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Bitcoin is a highly volatile asset. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Only invest what you can afford to lose, and do your own research.
What are the best investment strategies for Bitcoin?
Many investors use dollar-cost averaging (DCA) - investing a fixed amount regularly regardless of price. This removes the stress of trying to time the market and smooths out volatility over time. Check out our DCA Calculator to see how this strategy would have performed.
How do I actually buy Bitcoin?
You can buy Bitcoin through cryptocurrency exchanges (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance), apps like Cash App or Strike, or Bitcoin ATMs. For the best experience, look for platforms with low fees, strong security, and the ability to withdraw to your own wallet.
What is the best time to buy Bitcoin?
Nobody can predict the future. Historically, buying during major corrections has been profitable long-term, but timing the exact bottom is nearly impossible. Many experts suggest DCA as a way to remove timing pressure entirely.
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