Renowned economist Peter Schiff is enjoying his victory lap. On Thursday, he took aim at Bitcoin (BTC) once again, pointing out that the cryptocurrency's rocky 2025 stands in sharp contrast to silver's stellar performance.
A Launch Pad Failure
In a post on X, Schiff delivered his verdict on Bitcoin's year with characteristic flair. "When the year began, HODLers were confident Bitcoin was poised to moon. Instead, it malfunctioned on the launch pad as precious metals took off," he wrote. "It was the crypto Christmas that wasn't."
The precious metals advocate didn't hold back, declaring that "selling Bitcoin and buying silver" proved to be among the "best trades" of the year. And looking at 2025's numbers alone, he's got a point.
The Tale of Two Assets
Bitcoin supporter Steven Yamada pushed back on Schiff's claims, arguing that on a long-term basis, the smart move remains to "sell silver and buy BTC." And here's where things get interesting.
While Bitcoin has clearly lagged silver in 2025, zooming out reveals a dramatically different narrative. The cryptocurrency's 5-year and 10-year returns absolutely dwarf those of the precious metal.
| Asset | YTD Gains +/- | 5-Year Gains +/- | 10-Year Gains +/- | Price (Recorded at 9:30 p.m. ET) |
| Bitcoin | -6.18% | +228% | +20,324% | $88,413.84 |
| Spot Silver | +152.42% | +189.13% | +428.38% | $74.74/Ounce |
That 10-year figure for Bitcoin isn't a typo. Over two decades, the cryptocurrency has posted gains exceeding 20,000%, making silver's respectable 428% look modest by comparison.
Schiff Stays Bearish
These latest remarks fit perfectly with Schiff's ongoing bearish stance on cryptocurrency. Earlier this week, he declared the Bitcoin trade "over," claiming the asset fails to rise alongside either tech stocks or precious metals.
Last month, he offered an even more specific theory: Bitcoin operates as a "mirror image" of silver, meaning the higher silver climbs, the harder Bitcoin falls.
So who's right? Well, it depends entirely on your timeframe. If you invested in 2025, Schiff looks brilliant. If you bought a decade ago, you're probably not listening to his advice.