This roundup examines bitcoin's volatility relative to other major assets. CoinDesk calculations put bitcoin's 90-day realized volatility at about 38% as of Thursday. Gold's corresponding reading was about 23.5%. The S&P 500's reading was about 11%, making bitcoin slightly more than three times as volatile as the stock index.
The euro-dollar exchange rate had the lowest 90-day realized volatility among the assets compared, at 4.6%. Bitcoin was roughly eight times as volatile as the currency pair. The euro is the common currency of 21 countries, while the dollar serves as the global reserve currency. The currency pair's volatility remained below 10% despite uncertainty about France's government debt and the euro's resulting recent decline. Most fiat currency pairs have realized volatility readings under 10%.
Nvidia, the largest company by stock market value, had realized volatility of about 37%, the closest reading to bitcoin's. Bitcoin now fluctuates by almost as much as the artificial intelligence bellwether. However, bitcoin remains substantially less stable than the euro-dollar exchange rate, gold and stock indexes. Bitcoin's limited supply has not yet enabled bitcoin to match traditional currencies' stability or substantiate bitcoin maximalists' claims of superiority over paper currencies.
Bitcoin's 90-day realized volatility has averaged about 58% since January 2020. The measure reached a peak of 134% in June 2020. The lowest reading was 27.5% in September 2025, when bitcoin's price climbed above $100,000. Risk management is becoming more common in bitcoin, gradually reducing volatility and increasing bitcoin's appeal to professional investors.
Realized volatility measures the extent of price movements during a specified period, such as 30 or 90 days. The measure uses the standard deviation of daily returns, generally expressed on an annualized basis. Higher readings indicate larger price fluctuations and a greater perception of risk. Comparisons across assets help assess whether an investment provides portfolio diversification or adds volatility risk.
Volmex's BVIV index measures 30-day bitcoin implied volatility, reflecting options-based expectations for price fluctuations over four weeks. The VIX measures expected volatility for the S&P 500. The VIX has risen above the index's 200-day moving average, indicating that traders expect greater uncertainty and larger stock-index fluctuations. However, BVIV remains below the index's 200-day moving average, suggesting expectations of relative stability in cryptocurrency markets. Bitcoin's ability to withstand a potential surge in Wall Street volatility remains uncertain.
Bitcoin's 90-Day Volatility Still 8x Euro-Dollar's, Slightly Above S&P 500
CoinDeskShare
Summary
Bitcoin's 90-day volatility remains at 38%, eight times higher than the euro-dollar's 4.6% and slightly above the S&P 500's 11%. Market volatility for gold stands at 23.5%, while Nvidia shows 37%. Bitcoin's volatility has averaged 58% since 2020, peaking at 134% in June 2020. Despite better risk management, Bitcoin remains more volatile than traditional assets.
Source:Show original
Disclaimer: The information on this page may have been obtained from third parties and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of KuCoin. This content is provided for general informational purposes only, without any representation or warranty of any kind, nor shall it be construed as financial or investment advice. KuCoin shall not be liable for any errors or omissions, or for any outcomes resulting from the use of this information.
Investments in digital assets can be risky. Please carefully evaluate the risks of a product and your risk tolerance based on your own financial circumstances. For more information, please refer to our Terms of Use and Risk Disclosure.