If You Had Invested Your COVID-19 Stimulus Checks in Bitcoin, Here's How Much You'd Have

We live in the post coronavirus pandemic world, where four years seem like a generation ago and a lot of us still wonder, how would things turn out to be

The year 2020 brought forth unprecedented events, forever altering the course of history. As we navigate the post coronavirus pandemic world, four years seem like a generation ago and a lot of us still wonder, how would things turn out to be, if decisions were made back then with a gifted foresight.

In that regard, many in the crypto world believe the pandemic was a blessing in disguise for decentralized finance (DeFi) sector with several major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ethereum experiencing a never seen before surge in price.

Back in 2020, the U.S. government had sent out its first stimulus paycheck to all citizens under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

That $1,200 payment, given to single adults in April 2020, could have turned into nearly $15,000 if it had been invested in bitcoin. The check arrived on April 15, 2020, when bitcoin was trading at around $6,910. If someone had used the full amount to buy bitcoin and simply held onto it, they would now have about $14,748 worth of BTC.

This is a gain of over 1,129%.

Bitcoin’s current price sits at $84,950. But if that same investment had been sold during the cryptocurrency’s all-time high of $108,786—which occurred during former President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025—the return would have been even higher. In that case, the $1,200 investment could have reached $18,888.

The CARES Act was followed by two more rounds of stimulus payments. A second check worth $600 was distributed by January 15, 2021, and a third check for $1,400 went out by May 26, 2021. Combined, those three checks totaled $3,200 for many eligible Americans.

If that total had been used to buy bitcoin on the exact days the payments were issued, and held until now, the investment would have grown to about $18,952. That’s an increase of 492%.

The price growth of Bitcoin during this period was nothing short of dramatic. In just five years, it jumped from under $7,000 to over $84,000. Timing played a big role in the returns. As shown, selling at peak price points could make a big difference

This kind of “what if” scenario shows how much the crypto market has changed since 2020. It also reflects the impact of public financial aid intersecting with emerging digital currencies. While not everyone bought bitcoin back then, the numbers show what could have been possible with just one timely investment.

According to data shared in the report and historical BTC price trackers, these gains were possible based purely on market performance.