{"id":324702,"date":"2026-10-22T15:59:36","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T10:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/?p=324702"},"modified":"2026-10-22T15:59:36","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T10:29:36","slug":"stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/","title":{"rendered":"Stocks, Gold or Cryptocurrency: How They Performed in 5 Years and Which One You Should Buy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"border-left:4px solid #1F4E79;background:#EBF3FB;padding:10px 16px;font-style:italic;\"><em>Gold vs Bitcoin returns over five years show a wide gap in risk. A market report says gold gained 131% and the Nifty 50 rose about 26%, and that Bitcoin gave the strongest return but with high risk. A separate US-dollar study to early Oct 2026 found gold up 133%, US stocks up 78% and Bitcoin up 56%, so the answer depends on the start date.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#F0F9FF;border-left:4px solid #2E7D32;border-radius:6px;padding:14px 18px;margin:18px 0;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0;color:#1F4E79;font-size:14px;\"><strong>Quick Answer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:8px 0 0;\">Gold vs Bitcoin returns over five years depend heavily on the start date, because Bitcoin swings far more than gold or stocks. One report puts gold up 131% and the Nifty 50 up about 26%, while a US-dollar study to early Oct 2026 shows gold up 133%, US stocks up 78% and Bitcoin up 56%. Bitcoin fell about 71% from its Nov 2021 peak to late 2022 and then reached $126,080 on 6 Oct 2025, so the same asset looks best or worst depending on the date. The right choice rests on your time horizon and how much loss you can bear, not on one five-year number.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Gold vs Bitcoin returns is a favourite comparison whenever markets are weak, and the Nifty 50 is down about 11.5% this year as of 19 Oct according to one report. On gold vs Bitcoin returns, gold has done well as a store of value, stocks have given steady but modest gains over this window, and cryptocurrency has been a roller coaster.<\/p>\n<p>This article on gold vs Bitcoin returns lays out what each asset delivered, why two sources can disagree on the winner, the risks, the tax point and how to think about a choice. It is educational and not a recommendation to buy any asset.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-top:24px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/user\/log-in?utm_source=blogs&#038;utm_medium=stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\">Click Here &#8211; Get Free Investment Predictions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Gold_vs_Bitcoin_Returns_The_Five-Year_Numbers\" title=\"Gold vs Bitcoin Returns: The Five-Year Numbers\">Gold vs Bitcoin Returns: The Five-Year Numbers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Why_Two_Reports_Disagree_on_Gold_vs_Bitcoin_Returns\" title=\"Why Two Reports Disagree on Gold vs Bitcoin Returns\">Why Two Reports Disagree on Gold vs Bitcoin Returns<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Gold_vs_Bitcoin_Returns_on_a_Yearly_Basis\" title=\"Gold vs Bitcoin Returns on a Yearly Basis\">Gold vs Bitcoin Returns on a Yearly Basis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#What_Moves_the_Gold_Price_and_Bitcoin\" title=\"What Moves the Gold Price and Bitcoin\">What Moves the Gold Price and Bitcoin<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Risk_Profile_What_Each_Asset_Asks_of_You\" title=\"Risk Profile: What Each Asset Asks of You\">Risk Profile: What Each Asset Asks of You<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Taxes_and_Practical_Points_in_India\" title=\"Taxes and Practical Points in India\">Taxes and Practical Points in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Gold_vs_Bitcoin_Returns_Which_One_Should_You_Buy\" title=\"Gold vs Bitcoin Returns: Which One Should You Buy?\">Gold vs Bitcoin Returns: Which One Should You Buy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#What_to_Watch_Next_on_Gold_vs_Bitcoin_Returns\" title=\"What to Watch Next on Gold vs Bitcoin Returns\">What to Watch Next on Gold vs Bitcoin Returns<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Which_gave_the_best_return_in_five_years_gold_stocks_or_Bitcoin\" title=\"Which gave the best return in five years, gold, stocks or Bitcoin?\">Which gave the best return in five years, gold, stocks or Bitcoin?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Why_do_reports_give_different_results_for_gold_vs_Bitcoin_returns\" title=\"Why do reports give different results for gold vs Bitcoin returns?\">Why do reports give different results for gold vs Bitcoin returns?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#How_much_did_gold_return_in_five_years\" title=\"How much did gold return in five years?\">How much did gold return in five years?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#How_did_the_Nifty_50_perform_in_five_years\" title=\"How did the Nifty 50 perform in five years?\">How did the Nifty 50 perform in five years?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Is_Bitcoin_a_good_investment\" title=\"Is Bitcoin a good investment?\">Is Bitcoin a good investment?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#How_is_crypto_taxed_in_India\" title=\"How is crypto taxed in India?\">How is crypto taxed in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Should_I_put_all_my_money_into_one_asset\" title=\"Should I put all my money into one asset?\">Should I put all my money into one asset?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-5-year-returns-which-one-should-you-buy\/#Is_this_article_investment_advice\" title=\"Is this article investment advice?\">Is this article investment advice?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gold_vs_Bitcoin_Returns_The_Five-Year_Numbers\"><\/span><strong>Gold vs Bitcoin Returns: The Five-Year Numbers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;\">\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Gold vs Bitcoin returns: asset<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Five-year return, Indian report<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Five-year return, US-dollar study to early Oct 2026<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Gold<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Up 131%<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Up 133% (gold ETF GLD)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Nifty 50 or US stocks<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Nifty 50 up about 26%<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">US stocks (SPY) up 78%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Bitcoin<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Reported as the strongest, figure not seen by me<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Up 56%, about $1,563 from $1,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>The two five-year returns studies give different winners. On gold vs Bitcoin returns, the Indian report summary says Bitcoin delivered the strongest return among the assets discussed but is risky. The US-dollar study, which starts from 8 Oct 2021 and ends in early Oct 2026, finds gold ahead and Bitcoin last of the three. I could not find an Indian source with the exact Bitcoin figure, so I do not give one, and I flag that the two conclusions conflict.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-top:24px;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/univest.in\/screeners\">Compare stocks and track gold and market movers on the Univest screeners page<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Two_Reports_Disagree_on_Gold_vs_Bitcoin_Returns\"><\/span><strong>Why Two Reports Disagree on Gold vs Bitcoin Returns<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;\">\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Gold vs Bitcoin returns: reason for the gap<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Effect<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Start date<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Bitcoin was about $53,893 on 8 Oct 2021, close to its Nov 2021 peak near $69,000, so a start then looks poor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Different start dates<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">A start in Oct 2020, when Bitcoin was near $7,700, would show a far larger gain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Currency<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">A rupee return adds the fall of the rupee against the dollar to dollar assets<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Volatility<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Bitcoin fell about 71% to roughly $15,500 in late 2022, then hit $126,080 on 6 Oct 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>Bitcoin&#8217;s five-year returns are extremely sensitive to the day you start and end. The dollar study&#8217;s 56% gain implies a price near $84,000 in early Oct 2026 (my calculation from $53,893), which is about a third below the $126,080 peak of 6 Oct 2025 (my calculation). A reader who measures from a different date, or in rupees, can get a quite different answer, and that may explain why the Indian report ranks Bitcoin first.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gold_vs_Bitcoin_Returns_on_a_Yearly_Basis\"><\/span><strong>Gold vs Bitcoin Returns on a Yearly Basis<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;\">\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Gold vs Bitcoin returns: asset<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Five-year gain<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Approximate yearly return (my calculation)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Gold (Indian report)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">131%<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">About 18.2% a year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Gold (US-dollar study)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">133%<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">About 18.4% a year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Bitcoin (US-dollar study)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">56%<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">About 9.3% a year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">US stocks (US-dollar study)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">78%<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">About 12.2% a year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Nifty 50 (Indian report)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">26%<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">About 4.7% a year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>Spread over five years, in gold vs Bitcoin returns terms, the Nifty 50 gain of 26% is only about 4.7% a year, which is below what many fixed deposits pay. The Nifty 50 figure matches a move from about 18,000 to about 22,700 (my reading). Gold at 18% a year was a strong performer, with the gold price lifted by war, inflation worries and central bank buying. Annual figures hide the path, so gold vs Bitcoin returns on this table show the average and not the ride.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-top:24px;\"><em>Download the <a href=\"http:\/\/apps.apple.com\/in\/app\/univest-stocks-investment\/id6443753518\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Univest iOS App<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.univest.capp&#038;hl=en_IN\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Univest Android App<\/a> to track gold, stocks and market alerts.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Risk:<\/strong> A five-year return is a snapshot. The same asset can look very different if measured from a different start or end date.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Moves_the_Gold_Price_and_Bitcoin\"><\/span><strong>What Moves the Gold Price and Bitcoin<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The gold price tends to rise when wars, inflation or falling confidence in currencies push investors toward safety, and central bank buying has added support. The current Iran war and crude above $100 fit that pattern, which helps explain gold vs Bitcoin returns favouring gold in the dollar study. Bitcoin moves on liquidity, regulation and investor appetite for risk, so it can fall when stocks fall, which weakens its claim to be a safe haven.<\/p>\n<p>For five-year returns of stocks, the driver is company profit growth. Indian earnings growth has slowed this year and foreign selling has weighed on prices, so five-year returns for the Nifty 50 look thin compared with gold. A recovery in profits would lift gold vs Bitcoin returns comparisons in favour of stocks over the next five years, though nobody can promise that.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Risk_Profile_What_Each_Asset_Asks_of_You\"><\/span><strong>Risk Profile: What Each Asset Asks of You<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;\">\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Gold vs Bitcoin returns: asset<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">How it behaves<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Main risk<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Stocks (Nifty 50)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Grow with company earnings; recover after falls over long periods<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Deep falls during crises; the Nifty 50 is down about 11.5% this year as of 19 Oct<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Gold<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Acts as a safe haven in wars and inflation; low link to stocks<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">No income; prices can stall for years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Bitcoin<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Moves on sentiment and flows; very high swings<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">A 71% fall is possible, as in 2021 to 2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>For gold vs Bitcoin returns, stocks give a share in business profits, gold is a store of value and Bitcoin is a speculative digital asset. Bitcoin&#8217;s fall of about 71% shows what a drawdown can look like. In gold vs Bitcoin returns terms, an investor who put in money at the 2021 peak waited years to be repaid, which is a test of nerve that many people fail. For gold vs Bitcoin returns, the difference in risk matters as much as the difference in gains.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Taxes_and_Practical_Points_in_India\"><\/span><strong>Taxes and Practical Points in India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;\">\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Gold vs Bitcoin returns: practical point<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">What to know<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Crypto tax<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Gains on virtual digital assets have been taxed at a flat 30% with 1% TDS; verify the current rules<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Stocks and gold<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Capital gains rules differ by holding period and have changed in recent budgets; check current rates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Ways to hold gold<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Gold ETFs, sovereign instruments where available, mutual funds and physical gold<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Ways to hold stocks<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Direct shares, index funds and SIPs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>Tax can change the real return a lot, so compare gold vs Bitcoin returns after tax. Crypto has no loss set-off against other income under the rules I know, which makes a bad outcome harder to absorb. Rules change often, so check with a tax adviser before you act on gold vs Bitcoin returns.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Gold_vs_Bitcoin_Returns_Which_One_Should_You_Buy\"><\/span><strong>Gold vs Bitcoin Returns: Which One Should You Buy?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;\">\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Gold vs Bitcoin returns: investor type (my reading)<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;background:#0A0E1A;color:#FFFFFF;\">Points to weigh<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Long-term wealth builder<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Stocks through a SIP or index fund form the core; gold can diversify the portfolio<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Cautious saver<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Gold and stocks in staged amounts suit better than crypto, because swings are smaller<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">Risk-tolerant investor<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:8px;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;\">If at all, hold a small amount of Bitcoin that you can afford to lose entirely<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>This is an educational view and not advice. No single asset won across every report of gold vs Bitcoin returns, so diversification across stocks and gold, with at most a small crypto slice, is a more robust answer than chasing last period&#8217;s winner.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Watch_Next_on_Gold_vs_Bitcoin_Returns\"><\/span><strong>What to Watch Next on Gold vs Bitcoin Returns<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Gold prices against war news and the rupee, which drive gold vs Bitcoin returns in India<\/li>\n<li>The Nifty 50 against its support near 22,500 as crude stays high<\/li>\n<li>Bitcoin against the $126,080 peak and its recent range<\/li>\n<li>Changes in tax rules for crypto and gold in the next Budget<\/li>\n<li>Your own horizon, because gold vs Bitcoin returns look different over three, five and ten years<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Gold vs Bitcoin returns over five years show gold up 131% to 133%, the Nifty 50 up about 26% and Bitcoin either the leader or a laggard depending on the start date and currency. The sensible lesson is to diversify, match risk to horizon and treat Bitcoin as a small, high-risk slice. Read the data and decide on your own horizon.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#CC0000;border-radius:8px;padding:16px 20px;margin:24px 0;\">\n<p style=\"color:#FFFFFF;font-size:13px;line-height:1.7;margin:0;\"><strong style=\"color:#FFFFFF;\">Disclaimer:<\/strong> Data and figures in this article are sourced from publicly available information. These may or may not be accurate. Please verify all data with the official NSE (nseindia.com) and BSE (bseindia.com) websites before making any investment decision. Investments in securities are subject to market risk. This content is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice by Univest (SEBI RA INH000013776).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_gave_the_best_return_in_five_years_gold_stocks_or_Bitcoin\"><\/span><strong>Which gave the best return in five years, gold, stocks or Bitcoin?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> An Indian report puts gold up 131% and the Nifty 50 up about 26%, and says Bitcoin was strongest but risky. A US-dollar study to early Oct 2026 finds gold up 133%, US stocks up 78% and Bitcoin up 56%, so the answer depends on dates and currency.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_reports_give_different_results_for_gold_vs_Bitcoin_returns\"><\/span><strong>Why do reports give different results for gold vs Bitcoin returns?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> Bitcoin is extremely sensitive to the start date. It was near $53,893 in Oct 2021, near its Nov 2021 peak, and near $7,700 in Oct 2020, so the same asset gives very different results.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_did_gold_return_in_five_years\"><\/span><strong>How much did gold return in five years?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> The Indian report says 131% and the US-dollar study says 133% for a gold ETF. Both work out to about 18% a year by my calculation.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_did_the_Nifty_50_perform_in_five_years\"><\/span><strong>How did the Nifty 50 perform in five years?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> The report gives a gain of about 26%, or roughly 4.7% a year by my calculation. The Nifty 50 is also down about 11.5% this year as of 19 Oct, according to one report.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Bitcoin_a_good_investment\"><\/span><strong>Is Bitcoin a good investment?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> It has produced large gains and also a fall of about 71% from Nov 2021 to late 2022. It suits only investors who can afford to lose the money, and this is educational and not advice.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_crypto_taxed_in_India\"><\/span><strong>How is crypto taxed in India?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> Gains on virtual digital assets have been taxed at a flat 30% with 1% TDS under the rules I know. Rules change, so check the current position with a tax adviser.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_put_all_my_money_into_one_asset\"><\/span><strong>Should I put all my money into one asset?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> Most planners prefer diversification. A core of stocks, some gold and at most a small crypto slice reduces the damage if any one asset falls sharply.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_this_article_investment_advice\"><\/span><strong>Is this article investment advice?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> No. It is educational and not a recommendation to buy or sell. Please check the figures against company filings and your own risk profile before you act on anything you read here.<\/p>\n<div class=\"faq-schema\"><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which gave the best return in five years, gold, stocks or Bitcoin?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"An Indian report puts gold up 131% and the Nifty 50 up about 26%, and says Bitcoin was strongest but risky. A US-dollar study to early Oct 2026 finds gold up 133%, US stocks up 78% and Bitcoin up 56%, so the answer depends on dates and currency.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why do reports give different results for gold vs Bitcoin returns?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Bitcoin is extremely sensitive to the start date. It was near $53,893 in Oct 2021, near its Nov 2021 peak, and near $7,700 in Oct 2020, so the same asset gives very different results.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much did gold return in five years?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Indian report says 131% and the US-dollar study says 133% for a gold ETF. Both work out to about 18% a year by my calculation.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How did the Nifty 50 perform in five years?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The report gives a gain of about 26%, or roughly 4.7% a year by my calculation. The Nifty 50 is also down about 11.5% this year as of 19 Oct, according to one report.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is Bitcoin a good investment?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It has produced large gains and also a fall of about 71% from Nov 2021 to late 2022. It suits only investors who can afford to lose the money, and this is educational and not advice.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How is crypto taxed in India?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Gains on virtual digital assets have been taxed at a flat 30% with 1% TDS under the rules I know. Rules change, so check the current position with a tax adviser.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Should I put all my money into one asset?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Most planners prefer diversification. A core of stocks, some gold and at most a small crypto slice reduces the damage if any one asset falls sharply.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is this article investment advice?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. It is educational and not a recommendation to buy or sell. Please check the figures against company filings and your own risk profile before you act on anything you read here.\"}}]}<\/script><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gold vs Bitcoin returns over five years: gold up 131%, Nifty 50 about 26%. Why Bitcoin results differ by start date, risks, tax points and how to choose.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":324701,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[842],"tags":[14945,14949,5102,14944,4174,14948,14942,14946,14943,14947],"class_list":["post-324702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-bitcoin-5-year-return","tag-crypto-tax-india","tag-diversification","tag-gold-5-year-return","tag-gold-etf","tag-gold-or-bitcoin","tag-gold-vs-bitcoin-returns","tag-nifty-50-5-year-return","tag-stocks-vs-gold-vs-crypto","tag-which-asset-to-buy"],"metadata":{"rank_math_internal_links_processed":["1"],"_thumbnail_id":["324701"],"rank_math_title":["Gold vs Bitcoin Returns Over 5 Years: Stocks, Gold or Crypto?"],"rank_math_description":["Gold vs Bitcoin returns over five years: gold rose 131% and the Nifty 50 about 26%. See why Bitcoin results differ by start date, the risks and how to choose."],"rank_math_focus_keyword":["gold vs Bitcoin returns"],"rank_math_robots":["a:2:{i:0;s:7:\"noindex\";i:1;s:8:\"nofollow\";}"]},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/stocks-gold-or-cryptocurrency-how-they-performed-in-5-years-and-which-one-you.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/324702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=324702"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/324702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":324703,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/324702\/revisions\/324703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/324701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=324702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=324702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/univest.in\/blogs-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=324702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}