$10K Experiment Reveals Wild Dispersion in Asset Returns Over Five-Year Period

The $10K experiment compared investment returns across various assets from January 2021 to April 2026. MarketWise found that Solana led the pack with a staggering +3,476% return, transforming $10,000 into $357,628.

Bitcoin and Ethereum returned +141% and +133%, respectively, while Dogecoin lagged behind at +919%. Sealed Pokémon products outperformed all cryptos except Solana, returning +1,750%.

In contrast, meme stocks showed wildly varying outcomes. GameStop surged by +469%, while AMC Entertainment plummeted -91%. Bed Bath & Beyond investors lost their entire investment, with a return of -100%.

AI ETFs ARKK, BOTZ, and AIQ averaged a mere +28% over the five-year period, underperforming the S&P 500 by 79 percentage points. The study also highlighted the importance of timing, as Dogecoin investors who bought in January 2021 fared significantly better than those who waited until May 2021.

The experiment revealed significant dispersion among asset classes, with collectibles and cryptos often outperforming traditional stocks and ETFs. However, it also underscored the importance of considering hidden costs, such as grading fees for Pokémon cards.