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Bitcoin vs Robinhood (BTC vs HOOD): Returns, Risk & Volatility (2023)

Last updated: December 31, 2023

Gale Finance Team
Written by Gale Finance Team
Sid Kalla
Reviewed by Sid Kalla CFA Charterholder
TL;DR: In 2023, BTC returned +155.4% while HOOD returned +57.7%. BTC showed better risk-adjusted returns (Sharpe: 2.28). BTC was less volatile (44.0% vs 46.1%).

Analysis period: 2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

BTC Total Return
+155.4%
HOOD Total Return
+57.7%

Relative Performance of BTC vs HOOD (Normalized to 100)

BTC HOOD

Normalized to 100 at start date for comparison

Key Takeaways

  • Total Return: BTC delivered a +155.4% total return, while HOOD returned +57.7% over the same period. BTC outperformed on total returns.
  • Risk-Adjusted Return (Sharpe Ratio): BTC had a higher Sharpe (2.28 vs 1.13), indicating better risk-adjusted performance.
  • Volatility (Annualized): HOOD was more volatile, with 46.1% annualized volatility, versus 44.0% for BTC.
  • Maximum Drawdown: BTC's maximum drawdown was -20.1%, while HOOD experienced a deeper drawdown of -39.6%.

Bitcoin vs Robinhood Correlation

0.18 Average Correlation

Bitcoin and Robinhood were weakly correlated in 2023. With a correlation of 0.18, these assets showed meaningful independence, offering diversification benefits when held together.

For portfolio construction, this weak correlation suggests that combining BTC and HOOD could reduce overall portfolio variance. However, correlations can increase during market stress.

Metric Metric Value
Current (30-day) 0.39
Average (full period) 0.18
Minimum -0.15
Maximum 0.64

Correlation measures how closely two assets move together. Values near +1 indicate strong co-movement, near 0 indicates independence, and negative values indicate inverse movement.

Investment Comparison

If you invested $10,000 in each asset on January 1, 2023:

BTC $25,540.177 +155.4%
HOOD $15,767.327 +57.7%

Difference: $9,772.851 (BTC ahead)

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Bitcoin and Robinhood: Risk Analysis

Bitcoin experienced its maximum drawdown of -20.1% from 2023-07-13 to 2023-09-11. It has not yet recovered to its previous peak.

Robinhood experienced its maximum drawdown of -39.6% from 2023-07-19 to 2023-11-09. It has not yet recovered to its previous peak.

Smaller drawdowns and faster recoveries indicate lower downside risk and greater resilience during market stress.

Sharpe Ratio of BTC and HOOD

BTC Sharpe Ratio
2.28
HOOD Sharpe Ratio
1.13

Sharpe ratio measures return per unit of risk (volatility). A higher Sharpe indicates better risk-adjusted performance. BTC had a higher Sharpe (2.28 vs 1.13), indicating better risk-adjusted performance.

A Sharpe above 1.0 is generally considered good, above 2.0 is excellent. Negative Sharpe means the asset underperformed the risk-free rate. Calculated on each asset's full 365-day lookback of available prices and annualized using the asset calendar (365 for crypto, 252 trading days for equities/ETFs/metals).

Sortino Ratio of BTC and HOOD

BTC Sortino Ratio
3.85
HOOD Sortino Ratio
1.66

Sortino ratio measures return per unit of downside risk. Unlike Sharpe, it only penalizes negative volatility. BTC had better downside-adjusted returns.

A higher Sortino is better. It's particularly useful for assets with asymmetric volatility (big gains, smaller losses). Downside volatility: BTC 26.1% vs HOOD 31.5%. Calculated on each asset's full 365-day lookback of available prices and annualized using the asset calendar (365 for crypto, 252 trading days for equities/ETFs/metals).

Full Comparison of Bitcoin vs. Robinhood (2023)

Metric BTC HOOD
Total Return +155.4% +57.7%
Annualized Volatility 44.0% 46.1%
Sharpe Ratio 2.28 1.13
Sortino Ratio 3.85 1.66
Max Drawdown -20.1% -39.6%
Avg Correlation to S&P 500 N/A N/A

Bitcoin vs Robinhood: Frequently Asked Questions

Which had higher volatility: BTC or HOOD?

HOOD showed higher volatility at 46.1% annualized, compared to 44.0% for BTC During 2023. Higher volatility meant larger price swings in both directions.

Did BTC provide diversification when held with HOOD?

BTC and HOOD were weakly correlated in 2023, with an average correlation of 0.18. This weak correlation suggested meaningful diversification benefits when held together.

Which had better risk-adjusted returns: BTC or HOOD?

BTC showed better risk-adjusted performance with a Sharpe ratio of 2.28 versus HOOD's 1.13 During 2023.

Could BTC and HOOD have been combined in a portfolio?

Yes, though allocation sizing mattered. Their weak correlation could have meaningfully reduced overall portfolio variance. HOOD's higher volatility (46.1%) meant even small allocations can materially impact overall portfolio risk.