What $1,000 Would Be Worth at Every Major “Bitcoin Is Dead” Call

Bitcoin’s price sits near $86,500 on September 23, 2026, about 30% below its all‑time high of $126,080. Since 2010 the cryptocurrency has been declared dead 478 times, with prominent figures and institutions leading the chorus.

Key “Bitcoin Is Dead” Moments

• 2011 – Forbes (Tim Worstall): After Mt. Gox’s price collapse, a $1,000 investment would be worth roughly $4,922,700 today.
• 2017 – JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon: Called Bitcoin a fraud; $1,000 then would equal about $20,700 now.
• 2018 – Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting): Described Bitcoin as “rat poison squared”; $1,000 would be about $8,800 today.
• 2019 – President Donald Trump: Said Bitcoin is “not money” and “based on thin air”; $1,000 would be about $7,300 now.
• 2022 – European Central Bank: Blog post labeled Bitcoin an “artificially induced last gasp”; $1,000 would be about $5,000 today.
• 2024 – European Central Bank: Re‑affirmed Bitcoin’s “fair value at zero”; $1,000 would be about $1,700 now.

Who Has Made the Most Declarations?

Peter Schiff leads with 26 “Bitcoin is dead” calls, followed by economist Steve Hanke with 10 and Warren Buffett with eight.

Changing Opinions

Several critics have softened their stance. Jamie Dimon expressed regret for his fraud comment within months and JPMorgan now runs blockchain projects and holds Bitcoin. Berkshire Hathaway shifted its view in 2025, and former President Trump later ran on a pro‑crypto platform.

The Narrative Persists

The genre remains active; in the past week, angel investor Jason Calacanis called Bitcoin a “dead cat” bounce, prompting responses from Michael Saylor and Cathie Wood. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a record‑size inflow of $999 million in 2026.