A new analysis from independent crypto comparison platform Coinbird reveals the extraordinary results of a disciplined $100-per-month dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy into Bitcoin starting in January 2015. Over 137 monthly purchases totaling $13,700 invested, the portfolio accumulated 8.219 BTC, worth approximately $632,315 as of May 19, 2026 — a total return of +4,515%. The average acquisition cost per Bitcoin was roughly $1,667.
The study, based on Coinbird’s Bitcoin DCA Calculator using historical CoinGecko data, also highlights the limitations and psychological challenges of the strategy. DCA investors endured a maximum drawdown of -76.72% during the 2022 bear market, emphasizing that systematic buying does not eliminate volatility. Coinbird founder Philipp noted, “The interesting finding is that, in this historical scenario, automatic monthly buying through crashes, all-time highs and regulatory uncertainty still produced extraordinary long-term results. At the same time, the drawdowns show why this strategy is much harder to live through than it looks on a chart in hindsight.”
Additionally, the analysis compared DCA to lump-sum investing. For investors starting near the May 2021 peak, DCA returned +84.34% over five years ($6,100 invested turned into $11,244), outperforming a lump-sum approach (+43%). However, lump-sum beat DCA in shorter 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year scenarios. Coinbird concluded that the advantage of DCA over lump-sum is not universal and depends heavily on start date and market regime, only fully materializing after a complete crash-and-recovery cycle.
