After swings, $50 Bitcoin investment is worth about $99.69 on Jan. 14, 2026

David Gewirtz says the $50 he put into Bitcoin on Jan. 1, 2022 — using PayPal and paying a $1.15 fee — was worth about $99.69 as of Jan. 14, 2026.

Gewirtz recounts a volatile ride: the holding fell to about $17 in 2023, recovered to roughly $99.92 at the start of 2025, and surged to $127.97 (a 150.18% gain) by July 14, 2025. He notes the April 19, 2024 Bitcoin halving reduced miner rewards from 6.25 to 3.125 bitcoins, and says Reuters believed an incoming president’s pro-crypto stance helped drive late-2024 gains. The article also says Congress’s declaration of a so-called “crypto week” briefly lifted valuations before they fell back.

Gewirtz writes that the midyear gains have evaporated and the holding is now within pennies of its value 12 months earlier. He adds he will not increase his stake and plans to report on the investment again next New Year’s Day.

Key Topics

Crypto, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Halving, Crypto Week, David Gewirtz, Paypal