Bitcoin Dominates the Decade: Outperforming Gold and Silver, Analysts Claim

As market experts observe, a noticeable divide has emerged between supporters of Bitcoin and advocates of precious metals following a year of significant activity in both sectors. Bitcoin's remarkable long-term gains are cited as evidence that it remains the leading asset, while gold and silver have experienced a surprising surge that has caught some investors off guard. The discussions are heated and the opinions varied.

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin has seen an increase of approximately 27,700% since 2015, greatly surpassing the gains of gold (280%) and silver (400%).
Critics of Bitcoin, such as Peter Schiff, suggest that the cryptocurrency's best days may be behind it, emphasizing shorter timeframes for analysis.
The prices of gold and silver soared to new records in 2025, attributed to a weakening US dollar and shifts in economic conditions, such as anticipated Fed policy changes.
Analysts argue that Bitcoin does not require the decline of gold and silver to continue its rise and that both asset classes can thrive simultaneously.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin’s Substantial Growth Since 2015

Since 2015, Bitcoin's value has surged by an astonishing 27,700%, according to analyst Adam Livingston. This figure far surpasses that of gold and silver over the same period, which recorded increases of about 400% and 280%, respectively.

Livingston contended that even if we disregard Bitcoin's early years, its performance still significantly surpasses that of precious metals, reinforcing the argument for the cryptocurrency's superiority. However, this view is met with skepticism by some.

Bitcoin versus Silver versus Gold since January 1, 2015:

Silver: 405%

Gold: 283%

Bitcoin: 27,701%

Even ignoring the first six years of Bitcoin’s existence for those complaining about the timeframe comparison, gold and silver fall short compared to the "APEX ASSET."

— Adam Livingston (@AdamBLiv) December 27, 2025

Bitcoin Performance Chart

Pushback From Critics on Timeframes

Critics like gold proponent Peter Schiff challenged Livingston's analysis, recommending a focus on shorter periods—specifically, the last four years—and asserting that Bitcoin may have lost its momentum.

"Now only consider the last four years. Times have changed. Bitcoin’s time has passed."
— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) December 27, 2025

In contrast, Matt Golliher from Orange Horizon Wealth provided a different viewpoint, explaining that commodity prices typically revert toward their production costs. He noted that sources of gold and silver that were unprofitable last year are now being mined profitably.

BTCUSD Current Trading Chart

Gold and silver both hit new all-time highs in 2025, with gold peaking at around $4,533 per ounce and silver nearing $80 per ounce. Concurrently, the US dollar has weakened, with the US Dollar Index falling approximately 10% this year.

Analysts attribute these changes to expectations surrounding potential Federal Reserve easing in 2026 and increasing geopolitical tensions, prompting traders to invest in scarce assets. Peter Grant, a strategist at Zaner Metals, highlighted how these factors contributed to increased volatility in the market.

"Surprisingly unpopular opinion: Gold and silver do not need to slow down for Bitcoin to do well. Bitcoin proponents who think otherwise may not fully understand these assets."
— _Checkmate 🟠🔑⚡☢️🛢️ (@Checkmatey) December 28, 2025

According to analysts from Glassnode and macro strategists, Bitcoin does not require gold or silver to decline before it can appreciate in value. James Check, lead analyst at Glassnode, stated that these assets do not need to be in direct competition. Macro strategist Lyn Alden reiterated this sentiment, suggesting that both gold and Bitcoin can appeal to investors simultaneously.

Arthur Hayes added that if the Federal Reserve eases policies and the dollar weakens further, it would likely benefit both digital and physical assets.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView