In a world where traditional markets are breaking records, Bitcoin is quietly (or maybe not so quietly) outshining them all.
While the S&P 500 continues to impress in dollar terms, its performance looks a lot less glamorous when measured against Bitcoin.
And that contrast is sending a strong message to investors: crypto isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving.
S&P 500 Hits Record in Dollars, but Slips Sharply in BTC
On July 10, 2025, the S&P 500 closed at 6,280—an impressive 6% gain so far this year in USD.
That kind of climb would usually get investors celebrating.
But here’s the twist: if you priced the same index in Bitcoin, it’s actually down about 15% year-to-date.
So while Wall Street cheers its wins, Bitcoin is quietly rewriting the scoreboard in its favor.
Measuring Wall Street Through a Bitcoin Lens
Market analyst The Kobeissi Letter shared a jaw-dropping stat: since 2012, the S&P 500 has fallen nearly 100% against Bitcoin.
Let that sink in. In BTC terms, the mighty S&P has almost vanished.
That’s not just a financial trend—it’s a historic shift in how people might evaluate wealth and performance going forward.
Anyone who chose Bitcoin over stocks over the past decade is likely sitting on astronomical gains right now.
The data from Bitbo paints a clear picture of just how far BTC has come—and how it’s challenging traditional market benchmarks.
“Truly incredible: The S&P 500 in Bitcoin terms is now DOWN -15% year-to-date.
Since 2012, it’s down -99.98%. We are all witnessing history.” – The Kobeissi Letter
Bitcoin Pushes Past $118,000 as Traders Take Notice
Meanwhile, Bitcoin itself has had an explosive run in 2025.
According to CoinMarketCap, BTC jumped past $118,800 on Friday, gaining 6% in the past 24 hours and 10% in just one week. So far this year, it’s up 26% overall.
That kind of momentum has pulled even more investors into the crypto space—especially those who once brushed it off as speculative.
Now, with ETFs offering easier access, Bitcoin is no longer just a fringe play.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs Soak Up Billions
In the U.S., Bitcoin spot ETFs have become a major investment magnet. As of this week, 12 of these funds hold around 1.26 million BTC, which translates to about $148 billion at today’s prices.
That’s more than 6% of all Bitcoin in existence, according to Bitbo.
It’s no small feat—these ETFs have become the third most popular fund category this year, trailing only short-term U.S. government bonds and gold.
That shows just how seriously the mainstream is taking crypto now.
Billion-Dollar ETF Day Sends Strong Signal
Just this Thursday, Bitcoin ETFs recorded their second-largest daily inflow ever, pulling in over $1 billion in new investments.
For many traders, these ETFs offer a clean, easy way to invest in crypto—no need to deal with digital wallets or manage crypto keys.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin was still holding strong at over $118,000, according to Coingecko, keeping most of its weekly gains intact.
BTC’s Decade-Long Surge Outpaces Big Tech
Crypto skeptics might want to take another look. Analyst Charlie Bilello shared a stat sheet that shows Bitcoin’s growth absolutely dwarfing even the most celebrated tech stocks over the past decade:
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Bitcoin: +40,450%
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Nvidia: +34,815%
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Tesla: +1,702%
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Netflix: +1,206%
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Microsoft: +1,199%
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Amazon: +926%
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Meta (Facebook): +751%
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Apple: +691%
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Google: +556%
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S&P 500: +262%
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Gold: +175%
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US Inflation (CPI): +35%
That kind of outperformance is making it harder for serious investors to leave crypto out of the picture.
Traditional Markets Struggle to Keep Up
Even with U.S. equities flirting with all-time highs in dollar terms, they’re falling behind in Bitcoin terms.
That mismatch is now forcing investors to rethink how they balance their portfolios.
More and more people are asking: Should crypto have a permanent seat at the investing table?
Judging by the ETF inflows and Bitcoin’s staying power, the answer seems to be a growing “yes.”
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