Gold Tops 2025 Charts, but Bitcoin Remains the Long-Term Standout
While gold leads the performance rankings among major assets in 2025, Bitcoin remains unmatched in long-term returns, reaffirming its dominance across financial markets.
Bitcoin (BTC) edged down 0.11% in the past 24 hours to $116,702, per CoinDesk data, but remains up 25% year-to-date. Gold, however, has posted a 29% gain in the same period, outperforming BTC and securing the top spot among key asset classes, according to figures shared by financial strategist Charlie Bilello.
Both assets have significantly outpaced equities this year: emerging market stocks (VWO) are up 15.6%, the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) has gained 12.7%, and U.S. large caps (SPY) are up 9.4%. Mid-cap (MDY) and small-cap (IWM) equities have posted marginal gains of 0.2% and 0.8%, respectively.
Notably, 2025 marks the first year in which both gold and Bitcoin occupy the top two positions in Bilello’s annual asset class performance rankings.
Bitcoin’s Long-Term Performance Leaves Gold Behind
Despite lagging gold this year, Bitcoin’s long-term performance remains unrivaled. Since 2011, BTC has delivered a cumulative return of 38,897,420% — far eclipsing every other major asset class in the dataset.
By comparison, gold’s total return over the same period stands at just 126%, placing it behind key equity indices like the Nasdaq 100 (1,101%), U.S. large caps (559%), mid-caps (316%), and small-caps (244%).
In fact, Bitcoin’s performance has exceeded gold’s by a factor of more than 308,000x over the last 14 years.
Annualized, BTC has averaged 141.7% in yearly gains since 2011, compared to 5.7% for gold, 18.6% for the Nasdaq 100, and 13.8% for U.S. large-cap equities.
The Store-of-Value Debate: Bitcoin vs. Gold
Veteran trader Peter Brandt weighed in on the long-running comparison, suggesting Bitcoin could ultimately outshine gold as the premier store of value.
“Some think gold is a great store of value — and it is. But the ultimate store of value will prove to be bitcoin,” Brandt said on X, referencing a long-term chart highlighting the decline in the U.S. dollar’s purchasing power.
His remarks reflect a growing consensus that Bitcoin’s finite supply, decentralized structure, and global accessibility position it as a superior alternative to traditional hedging instruments in the digital era.
Market Outlook: Bitcoin Holds Steady Above $116K
Bitcoin’s ability to maintain levels above $116,000 in 2025 amid macroeconomic headwinds underscores its growing resilience. Traders are watching closely for a potential retest of this year’s peak near $123,000.
With the macro landscape still in flux, upcoming economic data and risk sentiment across global markets will likely dictate BTC’s next move. For long-term holders, Bitcoin’s multi-cycle outperformance remains a powerful signal of its staying power.
