TLDR
- Peter Schiff argues that Bitcoin holders are missing out on gains despite the asset not crashing yet.
- Schiff claims Bitcoin was the best performing asset before Wall Street’s involvement but has struggled since.
- The Bitcoin price has dropped over 50% when priced in gold since its November 2021 peak.
- Schiff points to the strong performance of gold and silver, which are reaching record highs.
- Schiff believes Bitcoin holders are losing potential gains by holding onto the cryptocurrency.
Peter Schiff, a prominent gold advocate, has once again criticized Bitcoin (BTC), claiming that its holders are missing out on gains despite the asset not crashing yet. Schiff’s latest remarks came as the price of Bitcoin faces pressure amidst the growing involvement of Wall Street and rising interest in gold. He argued that Bitcoin’s performance has worsened ever since institutional investors began to dominate its market.
In a series of posts on social media, Schiff highlighted the continued underperformance of Bitcoin despite broader market fluctuations. He pointed out that Bitcoin was once a top-performing asset before gaining widespread adoption by institutional players.
“Bitcoin was the best performing asset during a time period when hardly anyone owned it,” Schiff wrote.
Bitcoin Price Under Pressure from Wall Street Involvement
Schiff emphasized that Bitcoin’s most significant price gains occurred before Wall Street’s heavy involvement. He argued that the asset has struggled since major financial institutions started investing in it. According to Schiff, Bitcoin’s performance in recent years contrasts sharply with the sharp gains in precious metals, particularly gold and silver.
Bitcoin was the best performing asset during a time period when hardly anyone owned it. But ever since Wall Street embraced it and most people bought it, it's been one of the worst performing assets.
— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) January 23, 2026
The Bitcoin price has struggled in comparison to other assets, such as precious metals, which have reached record highs. Schiff pointed out that Bitcoin is down more than 50% when priced in gold since its November 2021 peak. He believes this shows that Bitcoin’s value is eroding, while assets like silver and gold are thriving.
Schiff also expressed concern that Bitcoin holders are missing out on potential gains by continuing to hold onto their investments. He pointed to the strong performance of gold and silver, along with the success of precious metals mining stocks, as key indicators of where capital is flowing.
“Silver and gold are at new record highs, precious metals mining stocks are exploding, and the dollar is tanking. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is down again,” Schiff remarked.
Bitcoin’s Current Behavior and the 2022 Bear Market Comparison
Some market analysts have drawn comparisons between Bitcoin’s current performance and the 2022 bear market. They argue that, like in 2022, tightening monetary policy and declining liquidity could lead to further price declines. Bitcoin’s 2022 sell-off was triggered by aggressive interest rate hikes from central banks, and some fear that similar conditions might cause a repeat of that trend.
However, other analysts reject this comparison, pointing out key differences in the current economic environment. They argue that today’s macroeconomic backdrop is more favorable for Bitcoin. The ongoing decline in inflation and the influx of liquidity could support Bitcoin’s price in the long term.
Crypto analyst Garret Bullish noted that despite the similarities in short-term price movements, the long-term outlook for Bitcoin is different. “The macro environment today is the opposite of 2022,” he said, highlighting factors such as disinflation and the technological revolution driven by AI, which could benefit Bitcoin in the future.
