Bitcoin Investment Faces Criticism: Peter Schiff Questions $2.82 Billion ROI, Calls BTC a “Fraud”

Gold advocate and economist Peter Schiff reaffirmed his long-standing disapproval of Bitcoin in a harsh critique through X Spaces. He specifically targeted MicroStrategy’s aggressive accumulation of the asset. With over $1 billion in assets under management, Schiff didn’t hold back, saying Bitcoin investment is a potential path to bankruptcy. 

Schiff’s remarks aimed at Bitcoin as “digital gold,” asserting it fails to perform anything like the precious metal. Despite volatile price swings, Bitcoin continues to be bought in bulk by figures like Michael Saylor. This is signaling diverging investor sentiment.

Is Bitcoin Truly Digital Gold or Hype?

Schiff argued that Bitcoin promoters misled the public by marketing the cryptocurrency as digital gold. “It doesn’t behave like gold in the market—it trades like a high-risk asset,” he claimed. According to him, this mismatch between marketing and performance disqualifies Bitcoin from being considered a store of value. In contrast, traditional assets like gold maintain price stability and reliability, traits Schiff believes Bitcoin fundamentally lacks.

Bitcoin’s massive 2024 bull run, reaching highs close to $110,000, has since corrected. The BTC price is now hovering around $85,000. Schiff claims the asset’s erratic behavior proves it’s unsuitable as a long-term investment. He also criticized the speculative mindset surrounding it. He said that most buyers are driven by short-term profit expectations, not real economic value.

Schiff Warns of MicroStrategy’s Risky Bitcoin Strategy

Schiff took direct aim at MicroStrategy, previously led by Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor. He stated that the company’s Bitcoin hoarding could lead to its financial ruin. “If this is reverse psychology, it’s working,” he quipped, referencing Saylor’s BTC accumulation. This comes despite BTC price volatility and Schiff’s prediction that the company may ultimately “go bankrupt.”

He dismissed arguments that Bitcoin is comparable to tech stocks, noting that those at least offer potential future earnings. “What does Bitcoin offer?” he questioned. “It’s not a company. It doesn’t produce anything.” 

Interestingly, Bitcoin continues to prove Schiff wrong in terms of returns. Since 2010, it has generated over 2.8 billion percent in ROI, vastly outperforming gold. Even over the past 12 months, the BTC price has gained around 36%, a figure few traditional investments can boast.

Will Bitcoin Bounce or Keep Sliding Lower?

The chart shows Bitcoin (BTC/USD) trading around $85,161 after rebounding from a recent low. The RSI is at 50.08, and the MACD is in negative territory. The technical indicators point to indecisiveness, but Bitcoin investment is still actively pursued by institutional buyers.

Chart 1 – BTC/USD live price, published on TradingView, April 19, 2025.

Though Schiff sees a classic bubble formation, others view this volatility as typical of a maturing asset class. The network continues to grow, and regulatory clarity has improved in several jurisdictions. Meanwhile, Bitcoin promoters remain confident, citing the asset’s deflationary supply model.

As more firms enter the crypto space, services around Bitcoin continue to expand. There’s a growing sense that Bitcoin is becoming too embedded in the financial ecosystem to vanish. However, skeptics like Schiff are a continual reminder of the risks, particularly for firms that bet on price surges.

Bottom Line: Is Schiff Right About Bitcoin?

Peter Schiff‘s harsh take on Bitcoin investment may resonate with conservative investors. However, the reality is that Bitcoin’s long-term performance continues to attract capital, regardless of volatility. While Schiff sees it as a super-risk asset destined for collapse. The BTC investors view its decentralized, transparent, and finite nature as the future of finance. As long as the BTC price rewards long-term investors, Bitcoin promoters will remain unconcerned.