IEFA vs. BTC-USD
IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) is Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net), while BTC-USD (Bitcoin) is a cryptocurrency. Over the past 10 years, IEFA returned 9.33%/yr vs 58.50%/yr for BTC-USD. At a 0.12 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IEFA vs. BTC-USD - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IEFA achieves a 8.58% return, which is significantly higher than BTC-USD's -25.13% return. Over the past 10 years, IEFA has underperformed BTC-USD with an annualized return of 9.33%, while BTC-USD has yielded a comparatively higher 58.50% annualized return.
IEFA
- 1D
- -0.71%
- 1M
- -1.77%
- 6M
- 4.73%
- YTD
- 8.58%
- 1Y
- 19.92%
- 3Y*
- 15.19%
- 5Y*
- 8.55%
- 10Y*
- 9.33%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.32%
BTC-USD
- 1D
- 1.28%
- 1M
- 2.00%
- 6M
- -29.23%
- YTD
- -25.13%
- 1Y
- -44.16%
- 3Y*
- 29.87%
- 5Y*
- 15.31%
- 10Y*
- 58.50%
- ALL TIME*
- 89.00%
IEFA vs. BTC-USD - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 8.58% | 32.08% | 3.26% | 17.95% | -15.24% | 11.63% | 8.18% | 22.64% | -14.14% | 26.57% |
BTC-USD Bitcoin | -25.13% | -6.27% | 120.76% | 155.82% | -64.23% | 59.40% | 304.57% | 94.10% | -73.37% | 1,324.24% |
Correlation
The correlation between IEFA and BTC-USD is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 4, 2012 | 0.12 |
Over the past year, IEFA and BTC-USD have become more correlated (0.33) than their long-term average of 0.12, meaning their price movements have been converging.
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Return for Risk
IEFA vs. BTC-USD — Risk / Return Rank
IEFA
BTC-USD
IEFA vs. BTC-USD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and Bitcoin (BTC-USD). 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.
| IEFA | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.31 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.39 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 0.85 | +0.39 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.74 | -0.83 | +2.57 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.57 | -1.32 | +7.90 |
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Drawdowns
IEFA vs. BTC-USD - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IEFA drawdown since its inception was -34.78%, smaller than the maximum BTC-USD drawdown of -85.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEFA and BTC-USD.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IEFA | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.78% | -85.30% | +50.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.50% | -53.08% | +41.58% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.76% | -53.08% | +39.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.41% | -76.67% | +46.26% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.78% | -83.80% | +49.02% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.79% | -47.48% | +44.69% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.64% | -42.61% | +35.97% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.04% | 27.88% | -24.84% |
Volatility
IEFA vs. BTC-USD - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is 3.99%, while Bitcoin (BTC-USD) has a volatility of 9.37%. This indicates that IEFA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BTC-USD based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IEFA | BTC-USD | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.99% | 9.37% | -5.38% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.45% | 34.93% | -21.48% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.64% | 35.76% | -20.12% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.59% | 43.93% | -27.34% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.01% | 56.33% | -39.32% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IEFA and BTC-USD have a correlation of 0.33, 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 (9.37%) compared to IEFA (3.99%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEFA dropped -34.78% vs BTC-USD's -85.30%.
IEFA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.28 vs -1.03), 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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