Ethereum vs Bitcoin: Which Would Have Made You Richer? (2015-2024 Analysis)
A comprehensive, data-driven comparison of the two crypto giants. We analyzed every major time period since Ethereum's launch to answer the ultimate question: which would have been the better investment?
Since Ethereum's launch in 2015, the crypto community has debated which asset would provide better returns: the established king Bitcoin, or the innovative challenger Ethereum. Today, we have nearly a decade of data to settle this debate once and for all.
Spoiler alert: The answer isn't as clear-cut as you might think, and it heavily depends on when you invested and when you sold.
โฟ Bitcoin Performance
- Launch: 2009
- Price in July 2015: ~$280
- Price in 2024: ~$43,000
- 9-year return: 15,257%
- Best year: 2017 (+1,318%)
ฮ Ethereum Performance
- Launch: July 2015
- Price at launch: ~$0.43
- Price in 2024: ~$2,400
- 9-year return: 558,040%
- Best year: 2017 (+9,363%)
Scenario 1: The Early Bird Investment (July 2015)
Let's start with the most straightforward comparison: investing $1,000 in each cryptocurrency when Ethereum launched in July 2015.
Bitcoin Investment
- Investment: $1,000 in July 2015
- Bitcoin price: ~$280
- Bitcoin purchased: ~3.57 BTC
- Value in 2024: ~$153,510
- Return: 15,251% gain
Ethereum Investment
- Investment: $1,000 in July 2015
- Ethereum price: ~$0.43
- Ethereum purchased: ~2,326 ETH
- Value in 2024: ~$5,582,400
- Return: 558,140% gain
๐ Winner: Ethereum
Ethereum's $1,000 investment would be worth $5.58 million vs Bitcoin's $153,510
Ethereum outperformed Bitcoin by 36x in this scenario!
Want to Run Your Own Scenarios?
Our calculator lets you test thousands of different investment scenarios across multiple cryptocurrencies and time periods. See what would have happened with your specific investment strategy.
๐ Try Calculator NowThe Technology Factor
Understanding why Ethereum outperformed Bitcoin in most scenarios requires looking beyond price charts to the underlying technology and use cases.
Bitcoin: Digital Gold
- Store of value narrative
- Limited supply (21 million coins)
- Institutional adoption as โdigital goldโ
- Network effect as the first cryptocurrency
- Simpler, more proven technology
Ethereum: The World Computer
- Smart contract platform enabling DeFi, NFTs, and dApps
- Continuous technological innovation (ETH 2.0, The Merge)
- Broader use cases beyond just currency
- Developer ecosystem and network effects
- Higher risk, higher reward potential
The Verdict
Based on nearly a decade of data, Ethereum significantly outperformed Bitcoin in most investment scenarios, particularly for early investors and those who dollar-cost averaged over time.
๐ Final Score
- Overall winner: Ethereum (558,040% vs 15,257% returns)
- Best for risk-averse investors: Bitcoin
- Best for maximum returns: Ethereum
- Best strategy: Diversified portfolio of both
Ready to Explore Your Own Scenarios?
Use our advanced calculator to test different investment strategies, time periods, and allocation models. See how your specific approach would have performed historically.
๐ Start Calculating