How to Use The Crypto Reality Check Calculator (Step-by-Step)
To use The Crypto Reality Check, choose an asset (Bitcoin, Ethereum, the S&P 500, gold, or cash), enter the dollar amount invested, pick a start year and end year between 2013 and 2025, set an estimated capital gains tax rate, and click Run the Reality Check. The tool immediately shows the nominal value, the after-tax value, and the inflation-adjusted real value, plus a bar comparison across all five assets.
Step 1: Pick your asset and amount
Start with the asset you actually held (or are considering), and the dollar amount you put in at the start date — not the number of coins. The tool converts your dollar amount into units at the historical start-year price automatically.
Step 2: Choose your start and end years
The tool covers year-end reference prices from 2013 through 2025. Pick the year closest to when you actually bought, and the year you sold (or today, if you're still holding) to see the current real value.
Step 3: Set a tax rate and read the stamp
Enter an estimated capital gains tax rate — 15% is a common long-term federal rate for many US filers, but yours may differ by income and jurisdiction. The result panel stamps the nominal number 'ADJUSTED' and shows the after-tax, inflation-adjusted real value directly beneath it, along with a plain-language real gain percentage.
Step 4: Compare against the other four assets
Below the headline numbers, a bar chart ranks all five assets — Bitcoin, Ethereum, S&P 500, gold, and cash — by their real value for the exact same starting dollar amount and dates, so you can see the relative picture at a glance.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to create an account?
No. The tool is free, requires no signup, and does not connect to any wallet or exchange.
Does it use my real portfolio data?
No, and it never transmits what you enter anywhere — all calculations run locally in your browser using the site's embedded historical dataset.