If You Put $1,000 Each Into Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana Five Years Ago, Two Would Have Lost Money.
Four popular cryptocurrencies, one $4,000 total investment, and a five-year window that produced wildly different results. The coins that generated the most excitement heading into late 2021 may not be the ones that rewarded investors most.
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Anyone who put $1,000 each into Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), and Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) at the end of October 2021 has witnessed a striking difference in how $1,000 invested in crypto has fared by October 15, 2026. Of these four investments, two have gained value while the other two have lost significant value.
So, which two coins lost money, and what should investors take away from this?
Bitcoin and XRP Outperformed While Ethereum and Solana Fell Short
Bitcoin performed best, climbing from $61,340 at the end of October 2021 to $81,620 by October 15, a 33% gain that turned the $1,000 investment into $1,331. XRP followed with a modest increase, rising from $1.11 to $1.33, a 19% gain that left the $1,000 stake worth $1,193.
In contrast, Ethereum dropped sharply from $4,298 to $2,426, a 44% loss that reduced the initial $1,000 investment to $564. Solana suffered the most, falling from $202 to $104, a 48% decline that means a $1,000 investment is now worth only $515.
| Coin | October 2021 Close | Latest Price | Change | Value of $1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | $61,340 | $81,620 | +33% | $1,331 |
| XRP | $1.11 | $1.33 | +19% | $1,193 |
| Ethereum | $4,298 | $2,426 | -44% | $564 |
| Solana | $202 | $104 | -48% | $515 |
These results are based on hypothetical calculations using monthly closing prices, and they do not account for trading fees, spreads, or taxes, which could further affect the final numbers.
Why Did Ethereum and Solana Fall Behind?
Both of the coins that lost money had strong appeal entering late 2021. Ethereum was seen as the backbone of the decentralized finance (DeFi) movement and the booming NFT market (digital collectibles on the blockchain). Solana emerged as a promising alternative, boasting high speeds and low transaction fees, attracting many buyers who believed both would outperform more established cryptocurrencies.
In contrast, Bitcoin and XRP had less hype. Bitcoin’s messaging remained consistent as a digital store of value, while XRP faced scrutiny over the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple, the company linked to the token.
A Busier Network Didn’t Mean a Better Return for Ethereum and Solana
Interestingly, the two quieter coins—Bitcoin and XRP—are the only ones currently in profit. This shows that a busy network does not always lead to better returns. The value of a cryptocurrency ultimately depends on the price paid at the beginning just as much as on the network’s developments over time.
In October 2021, investors were optimistic about what Ethereum and Solana could achieve, but Ethereum has continued to lose ground to Bitcoin since then.
Five years is just one timeframe, and different starting points can yield different results. Both Ethereum and Solana remain below their October 2021 prices, highlighting that investment timing plays a significant role in performance. Even Bitcoin and XRP haven’t returned to their all-time highs, with Bitcoin still far from its $126,080 peak.
Do Exciting Promises Lead to Better Returns on $1,000 Invested in Crypto?
Not in this case. The two investments that initially sparked the most excitement—Ethereum and Solana—lost money, while the quieter Bitcoin and XRP thrived. This shows that which coin you choose matters more than simply investing in cryptocurrency.
For investors, spreading funds across different coins may help mitigate the risks of any single investment. Future moves could change these standings: a monthly close above $4,298 for Ethereum or $202 for Solana could erase those losses, while a monthly close below about $1.11 for XRP would erase its gains and completely alter the current balance.
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Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst who's spent nearly a decade making blockchain understandable—no easy task when most whitepapers read like fever dreams. He writes for 24/7 Wall St., covering Bitcoin, altcoins, and crypto market analysis for investors. Before crypto, he was a tech writer (back when explaining "the cloud" was peak innovation). Since 2018, he's written for CoinTelegraph, Yahoo Finance, The Block, Cryptonews, Zypto, Rain, and more—basically anywhere people want crypto news without the headache. Sam runs MacLabs Marketing, a content agency for crypto brands tired of sounding like AI wrote their website. He also publishes free crypto education on his site for Web3 enthusiasts who think "gas fees" is a typo. When he's not writing or staring at charts, Sam's either: - Watching anime (currently convinced One Piece has better tokenomics than most altcoins) - At the gym sculpting himself into a Greek god - Listening to the music your mum warned you only bad boys listen to Connect: LinkedIn | Email | MacLabs Marketing
