For centuries, gold was trusted as the foundation of money, but it had many flaws. Bitcoin perfects this concept for the digital age with its fixed supply, borderless nature, divisibility, and verifiability.
Yes — in Bitcoin terms, gold has been collapsing for more than a decade.
Measured against Bitcoin, an ounce of gold has lost nearly all its value:
| Period | Gold Price (USD/oz) | Bitcoin Price (USD) | Gold Value in BTC | % Drop vs. Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2010 | $1,421 | $0.30 | ≈ 4,738 BTC | — |
| December 31, 2015 | $1,061 | $430 | ≈ 2.46 BTC | — |
| December 31, 2020 | $1,894 | $29,002 | ≈ 0.065 BTC | — |
| Today | Loading... | Loading... | Loading... | — |
Despite gold more than doubling in dollar terms since 2010, its value relative to Bitcoin has effectively gone to zero.
In 2010, one ounce of gold could buy over 4,700 BTC. Today, it buys less than 0.04 BTC — a collapse of over 99.999%.
Gold may still shine in dollars, but in Bitcoin terms, it’s already dead.
Bitcoin is called “digital gold” because it improves on gold’s monetary traits for the digital age.
It is scarce (limited to 21 million coins), durable (cannot be destroyed), divisible (down to 100 million satoshis), portable (moves anywhere in minutes), and verifiable (anyone can confirm authenticity on the blockchain).
In essence, Bitcoin keeps gold’s strength as hard money independent of governments while making it borderless and programmable.
Bitcoin. You can store billions of dollars on a hardware wallet the size of a thumb drive. Gold requires vaults, guards, and insurance.
Bitcoin. You can move any amount of Bitcoin across the world in minutes for a few dollars. Moving gold means armored trucks, customs forms, and huge costs.
Bitcoin. It can be divided into 100 million satoshis per coin. Gold can be cut, but not easily or precisely, and small pieces are impractical.
Bitcoin. The code guarantees a hard cap of 21 million coins. Gold supply keeps growing every year as new deposits are mined.
Bitcoin. You can audit the entire supply yourself using open-source software. Verifying gold’s purity requires experts and expensive testing equipment.
Bitcoin. It works natively on the internet and can be sent instantly anywhere. Gold is a physical metal built for a pre-digital economy.
Bitcoin. If held in self-custody, no government can confiscate it without your private keys. Gold has been seized before, including in 1933 in the United States.
Bitcoin. New coins are released every ten minutes on a known schedule that halves every four years. Gold mining fluctuates with market prices and new discoveries.
Bitcoin. It’s backed by cryptographic proof that cannot be faked. Gold can be counterfeited or filled with tungsten and requires testing to confirm authenticity.
Bitcoin. There will only ever be 21 million coins, meaning fewer than one for every 400 people on earth. Gold supply continues to expand every year.
Bitcoin. It integrates directly with digital wallets, payment apps, and programmable contracts. Gold sits in vaults collecting dust.
Dive into essays and research that expose gold’s flaws and highlight Bitcoin’s superiority.
Nick Szabo traces how early humans developed money through collectibles and trust systems — laying the foundation for Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Obsoletes All Other Money (Read time: 12–15 minutes) – Parker LewisParker Lewis explains why Bitcoin’s monetary properties render all legacy forms of money — including gold — obsolete.
The Bullish Case for Bitcoin (Read time: 41 minutes) – Vijay BoyapatiVijay Boyapati presents a comprehensive case for Bitcoin as the next evolution of sound money in the digital age.
The Greatest Game (Read time: 23 minutes) – Jeff BoothJeff Booth explores the inevitable clash between exponential technology and a debt-based monetary system.
What is Money? – The Saylor Series (Video Series) – Robert Breedlove & Michael SaylorRobert Breedlove and Michael Saylor dive deep into the meaning, history, and future of money through the lens of Bitcoin.