Russian Central Bank Crowns Bitcoin as World’s Best-Performing Asset Since 2022

Move over gold, stocks, and real estate—Bitcoin just got the ultimate institutional backhanded compliment. Russia’s central bank—yes, the same one that banned crypto payments in 2021—now admits BTC has outperformed every traditional asset class for three straight years.

Behind the irony: A ruble that’s lost 40% against BTC since 2022, while inflation chewed through savings accounts. The report conspicuously avoids mentioning how Moscow’s own capital controls made crypto the only exit ramp for some.

One hedge fund manager quipped: ’When even central banks FOMO into your worst enemy, maybe reconsider your monetary policy.’

However, the bank also pointed to the top crypto’s short-term volatility, highlighting that Bitcoin dropped 18.6% between January and April 2025.

Only dollar-denominated savings and the S&P 500 performed worse during this period than the bellwether digital asset.

Still, Bitcoin marked April with a strong recovery, rising by 11.2% during the month to reclaim its lead in the investment market.

This return came as the broader market indices registered significant losses, while Gold and corporate bonds posted minor gains.

Russia-based outlet Forklog first reported the data.

Bitcoin growing evolution

The central bank’s findings focus in on Bitcoin’s rapid evolution from a speculative asset to a potential cornerstone in global financial portfolios.

Since 2022, Bitcoin has surged from trading under $20,000 to an all-time high of nearly $110,000 this year. This run was driven by growing institutional interest and regulatory milestones such as the approval of spot BTC exchange-traded fund (ETF) products in the United States and Hong Kong.

US President Donald Trump’s newfound pro-crypto pivot has also aided this mainstream adoption. His policies have fueled discussions around using Bitcoin as a reserve asset—a narrative now gaining traction in global financial circles.

As a result, governments and companies are taking notice of BTC’s potential. Nations such as Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine, alongside firms like Cantor Fitzgerald, are now exploring or integrating digital assets into their broader financial strategies.

For many, BTC, despite its inherent volatility, presents a hedge against macroeconomic uncertainty and a vehicle for expanding financial access.