Euro vs Bitcoin since 2012
-13% × 1,212,349%
Updated July 2026 · BLS / FRED · daily closing prices (not exportable)
Since 2012, Euro is down 13% against the dollar and Bitcoin is 1,212,349% in dollars. Bitcoin held up better. Held as cash, Euro earns no interest, so that line is the exchange rate, not a return.
Base 100 since 2012
Why compare Euro and Bitcoin
Bitcoin was pitched as an alternative form of money, so the contest against an established strong currency like the euro showed up early. The duel joins opposites. The euro is an exchange rate held as cash it earns no interest, so its line is only the relatively calm move against the dollar, not a return. Bitcoin is a speculative asset with no cash flow and no measurable intrinsic value, which multiplies and collapses with equal ease. The durable pattern is one of distant worlds: the euro is a steady place to park cash, while bitcoin is volatility itself, capable of having returned a fortune or destroyed capital depending entirely on when you started. It is the mature currency against the young, extremely risky bet, each shown against the dollar.
Returns by window
| Window | Euro | Bitcoin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | -0% | -44% |
| 5 years | -3% | 55% |
| 10 years | 2% | 10,201% |
| since 2012 | -13% | 1,212,349% |
The price of return: risk
| Asset | Annual volatility | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|
| Euro | 7% | -29% |
| Bitcoin | 86% | -81% |
$10,000 in each, since 2012
| Asset | Value today |
|---|---|
| Euro | $8,722 |
| Bitcoin | $121,244,868 |
Frequently asked questions
Euro or Bitcoin: which held up better?
Since 2012, Bitcoin is ahead in dollar terms. But a currency held as cash earns no interest, so its figure is the move against the U.S. dollar, not a return.
Is a currency line a return?
No. Holding cash in any currency earns no interest by itself, so the line is only the exchange-rate move against the dollar. A real asset (gold, an index) carries a return — that contrast is the point of this page.
Does the bigger move mean the better holding?
Not on its own — yield and risk matter, and this is not investment advice. The page shows the dollar move and the largest drop; for cash, also weigh the interest you could earn elsewhere.
Keep exploring
Descriptive, educational content computed from official public data. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.