BTC-USD vs. QQQ
BTC-USD (Bitcoin) is a cryptocurrency, while QQQ (Invesco QQQ ETF) is Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. Over the past 10 years, BTC-USD returned 57.64%/yr vs 20.87%/yr for QQQ. At a 0.13 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
BTC-USD vs. QQQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BTC-USD achieves a -27.00% return, which is significantly lower than QQQ's 13.46% return. Over the past 10 years, BTC-USD has outperformed QQQ with an annualized return of 57.64%, while QQQ has yielded a comparatively lower 20.87% annualized return.
BTC-USD
- 1D
- 0.16%
- 1M
- -0.89%
- 6M
- -33.12%
- YTD
- -27.00%
- 1Y
- -46.45%
- 3Y*
- 28.84%
- 5Y*
- 14.98%
- 10Y*
- 57.64%
QQQ
- 1D
- -1.50%
- 1M
- -3.66%
- 6M
- 12.19%
- YTD
- 13.46%
- 1Y
- 24.36%
- 3Y*
- 22.41%
- 5Y*
- 14.91%
- 10Y*
- 20.87%
BTC-USD vs. QQQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BTC-USD Bitcoin | -27.00% | -6.27% | 120.76% | 155.82% | -64.23% | 59.40% | 304.57% | 94.10% | -73.37% | 1,324.24% |
QQQ Invesco QQQ ETF | 13.46% | 20.77% | 25.58% | 54.86% | -32.58% | 27.42% | 48.62% | 38.96% | -0.13% | 32.66% |
Correlation
The correlation between BTC-USD and QQQ is 0.36, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.36 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 1, 2012 | 0.13 |
Over the past year, BTC-USD and QQQ have become more correlated (0.36) than their long-term average of 0.13, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
BTC-USD vs. QQQ — Risk / Return Rank
BTC-USD
QQQ
BTC-USD vs. QQQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Bitcoin (BTC-USD) and Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| BTC-USD | QQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.39 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.46 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.83 | 1.23 | -0.40 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.88 | 2.05 | -2.92 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.41 | 7.20 | -8.61 |
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Drawdowns
BTC-USD vs. QQQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BTC-USD drawdown since its inception was -85.30%, roughly equal to the maximum QQQ drawdown of -82.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BTC-USD and QQQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BTC-USD | QQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -85.30% | -82.97% | -2.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -53.08% | -11.96% | -41.12% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -53.08% | -22.77% | -30.31% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -76.67% | -35.12% | -41.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -83.80% | -35.12% | -48.68% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -48.79% | -6.71% | -42.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -42.59% | -32.65% | -9.94% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 29.41% | 3.39% | +26.02% |
Volatility
BTC-USD vs. QQQ - Volatility Comparison
Bitcoin (BTC-USD) has a higher volatility of 9.63% compared to Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ) at 7.45%. This indicates that BTC-USD's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than QQQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BTC-USD | QQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.63% | 7.45% | +2.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 34.90% | 15.55% | +19.35% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 35.73% | 18.75% | +16.98% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 43.96% | 22.81% | +21.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 56.33% | 22.45% | +33.88% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BTC-USD and QQQ have a correlation of 0.36, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BTC-USD has higher volatility (9.63%) compared to QQQ (7.45%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BTC-USD dropped -85.30% vs QQQ's -82.97%.
QQQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.31 vs -1.08), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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