How the Bitcoin Imagine If Calculator Works

A complete methodology for calculating theoretical maximum Bitcoin returns through perfect trade timing. Imagine buying every major Bitcoin low and selling every major Bitcoin high—perfectly. Learn our data sources, selection criteria, and simulation logic.

The Perfectly Timed Trade Simulation

How the Bitcoin Imagine If Calculator Simulation Works

The Bitcoin Imagine If Calculator simulates theoretical maximum returns by executing trades at major historical milestones. It alternates between selling at highs and buying at lows with 100% accuracy—an impossible standard in reality, used here for education and entertainment. Try the Bitcoin Imagine If Calculator to run scenarios yourself.

Step-by-Step Process:

  1. Initial purchase: Choose a verified low from our lows database, allocate your investment, and compute initial BTC.
  2. Process milestones: Move chronologically through future lows/highs using our highs and lows datasets.
  3. Execute perfect trades: At each HIGH, sell all BTC for USD. At each LOW, deploy USD to buy BTC.
  4. Final value: Multiply final BTC by today’s price to estimate theoretical ROI.

Data Sources & Verification

Primary Data Source: TradingView

We use TradingView’s BTC/USD All Time History Index and cross‑verify with multiple exchanges. Every price in our lows and highs databases includes the exact date and historical context.

Verification Checklist

  • Cross‑exchange checks: Confirm price prints across multiple venues.
  • Context mapping: Tie each milestone to documented events/regimes.
  • Date precision: Use the actual occurrence date, not delayed reporting.

Milestone Selection Criteria

Bitcoin Lows (Buy Events)

Minimum standard: ~35% drawdown from the previous major high.

We analyze daily BTC/USD swing points. Including only substantial corrections keeps the dataset focused. Browse all qualifying lows in our historical database.

Note: Two legacy lows (~32–33% pullbacks) are grandfathered.

Bitcoin Highs (Sell Events)

Minimum standard: ~120% rise from the previous major low.

This captures primary bull peaks while filtering minor rallies. Explore all qualifying peaks in our highs database.

Current range: ~122% to ~13,267% increases.

Why Each Milestone Matters

Each milestone marks a meaningful phase in Bitcoin’s evolution: early exchange growth, infrastructure build‑out, and institutional adoption. Explore the full timeline across historical lows and historical highs.

Early Era (2010–2013)

First trades, exchange launches, and volatility as Bitcoin found product‑market fit. See early lows like the Mt Gox era.

Growth Era (2014–2020)

Infrastructure, regulation, and mainstream recognition shaped multi‑year cycles and large drawdowns/rallies.

Institutional Era (2021–2025)

Corporate adoption and ETF flows created new price discovery dynamics and volatility regimes.

Important Disclaimers

Perfect Timing is Impossible

The Bitcoin Imagine If Calculator demonstrates theoretical, unachievable returns. It’s for education/entertainment only and not financial advice. Try the Bitcoin Imagine If Calculator.

The 21 Million Bitcoin Limit

If a scenario implies owning more than 21 million BTC, we flag it as impossible—this is an educational reminder of Bitcoin’s fixed supply.

Educational Value Over Financial Advice

This page teaches price history, market cycles, and the pitfalls of timing. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

Explore Our Data

Try the Bitcoin Imagine If Calculator

Test scenarios with the Bitcoin Imagine If Calculator using historical data.

Historical Lows Database

Record of major market lows with context and verification.

Historical Highs Database

Comprehensive list of peak prices across cycles.