This is what your life would be like if you had trusted Bitcoin instead of buying an iPhone in 2011.

In October 2011, as millions of people lined up to buy the new iPhone 4S, a quiet, revolutionary opportunity went unnoticed.

Bitcoin was trading at just $4, and Ethereum didn't even exist yet. However, the price of an iPhone, about $649 back then, could have become a life-changing investment. Today, with Bitcoin surpasses $115.000 y Ethereum above $4.200 per unit, that same $649 invested in crypto in 2011 could be worth millions. 

CoinGecko's report accurately reveals how the cost of an iPhone in BTC and ETH has decreased dramatically over the years, not because the phones are cheaper, but because Cryptocurrencies have appreciated extraordinarilyThis is the story of a decision that could have changed everything.

The iPhone that cost you a fortune in Bitcoin

The scene is familiar: October 2011, iPhone 4S comes onto the market, and you decide to upgrade your device. You pay $649 without giving it much thought. At the time, Bitcoin was trading at around $4. So, with that same amount, instead of buying a new smartphone, could you having acquired 162,25 BTC and today, with each BTC hovering around $115.000, your investment would be worth more than $18,6 million. So, what seemed like a reasonable tech purchase turns out, in retrospect, to be a decision that cost you a fortune.

The evolution of the iPhone price in BTC, according to the data published by CoinGecko, is as dramatic as it is revealing. 

Platform analysts revealed that in 2011, a latest-generation iPhone cost more than 160 BTC. In 2025, the same device It costs just about 0,0072 BTC. However, this drop does not reflect a depreciation of the phone, but rather a monumental appreciation of BitcoinEach year, the price of BTC decreased, marking the rise of a cryptocurrency from a digital curiosity to a globally scalable digital asset.

The narrative becomes even more powerful when the context is considered. While the iPhone 4S became obsolete in two years, Bitcoin became a store of value., a tool for financial freedom and a gateway to new economies. 

Therefore, analysts emphasize that the difference between having a phone and having millions lies not in technology, but in vision; in having trusted what wasn't yet obvious and in having seen beyond immediate consumption.

Ethereum: The Opportunity That Came Next

Although Bitcoin was the pioneer of the crypto world, Ethereum offered a second opportunity for those who did not arrive on time. 

In 2015, when the iPhone 6S It also cost about $649, Ethereum was just starting to be traded. At that amount, About 876,41 ETH could have been acquired, according to the report. Today, with ETH above $4.200, that investment would be equivalent to more than $3,6 billionOnce again, the phone that seemed indispensable becomes the symbol of a lost opportunity.

The CoinGecko report shows how the cost of an iPhone in ETH has also dropped dramatically. In 2015, the device cost hundreds of ETH, but now it's only about 0,18 ETH. 

Once again, history repeats itself: as the phone ages, cryptocurrencies grow stronger. In the case of Ethereum, this digital asset not only grew in value, but also redefined what it means to build on blockchain. Its ecosystem of smart contracts, decentralized applications and open finance made it the engine of a new digital era.

In short, the difference between buying an iPhone and buying Ethereum in 2015 isn't just financial, but also philosophical. Ethereum offered a solid promise of being part of something bigger than oneself, and those who believed in this visionary idea not only saw their wealth grow, but also became actors in a disruptive change in the way we interact with technology and the digital world.

Crypto vs. Consumer: The Decision That Could Have Changed Everything

Over the past 14 years, the price of an iPhone, measured in Bitcoin and Ethereum, has plummeted by more than 99,9%. This doesn't mean phones are no longer worth anything; rather, cryptocurrencies have completely changed the way we think about investing. 

The CoinGecko report goes beyond a simple price comparison; it tells a story of vision and courage, where risk translates into great rewards. Those who decided to trust cryptocurrencies instead of spending on immediate consumption have earned, year after year, a Financial Freedom that few expected.

This narrative invites us to reflect on our daily decisions. How the present tempts us with what we can touch or use now, while the future remains hidden, full of potential. 

Bitcoin and Ethereum began as bold and controversial concepts, and today, although they're already worth thousands of dollars, they continue to spark interest among experts who see potential beyond their current price. In contrast, products like the iPhone 4S and 6S, which were once revolutionary, now merely serve as reminders of the ephemeral nature of certain fads and the importance of choosing with a long-term vision.

Today, with BTC trading at $115.000, Those 162,25 BTC exchanged for an iPhone in 2011 would be worth more than $18 million.. So instead of a phone that became obsolete in a few years, today you could have Financial freedom, investments, properties, and maybe even your own business, having invested and held Bitcoin.

Finally, although cryptocurrencies have come a long way in the last decade, the story doesn't stop there. Contemporary analysts continue to assess their growth, sensing that the present could be another significant stage in their evolution, similar to those early years when few believed Bitcoin and Ethereum had real value. All of this invites us to consider the power of patience and foresight to understand not only the immediate value of cryptoassets, but also the opportunities that may arise over time.

Investing in cryptoassets is not fully regulated, may not be suitable for retail investors due to high volatility and there is a risk of losing all invested amounts.