Have you ever imagined how much a seemingly small amount invested in Bitcoin back in its early days in 2009 would be worth today?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions by curious individuals and investors trying to understand the magnitude of the appreciation of the world's largest cryptocurrency.

In this article, we will do the complete calculation — based on real historical data — to find out how much R$100 invested in Bitcoin in 2009 would be worth today.

The birth of Bitcoin and its initial value

Bitcoin was created in 2009 by a person (or group) under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. In the first few months, it practically had no market value.

The first known quote appeared on October 5, 2009, on a site called New Liberty Standard, which estimated the price based on the cost of electricity for mining.

At that time, 1 dollar was equivalent to 1,309.03 bitcoins.

Shortly thereafter, in 2010, the first recorded public trade occurred: 5,050 BTC exchanged for US$5.02, which equated to about US$0.00099 per BTC.

These two milestones help us make two different calculations — one with the theoretical initial price from 2009 and another with the first real exchange price.

Initial conversion: how much was R$100 in 2009?

In October 2009, 1 dollar was worth approximately R$1.74 (historical data from the Central Bank and FRED).

Therefore, if someone had R$100, they could exchange it for about US$57.54 at the time.

Formula:

R$100 ÷ 1.7378 = US$57.54

Calculation 1 – Using the price from New Liberty Standard (October 2009)

In October 2009, 1 USD = 1,309.03 BTC.

With US$57.54, it would be possible to acquire:

57.54 × 1,309.03 = 75,326.85 BTC

Now, let's update this number to the current value.

Considering the Bitcoin quote on October 23, 2025, of approximately US$109,063.77 per BTC:

75,326.85 BTC × 109,063.77 = US$8,215,430,247.62

In other words, more than 8.2 billion dollars.

Converting to reais, with the dollar quoted at R$5.36, we have:

US$8,215,430,247.62 × 5.36 = R$44,059,352,418

Result:

➡️ R$44.05 billion reais.

Calculation 2 – Using the first real market price (~US$0.00099 per BTC)

Now, using the trading value from 2010, when Bitcoin actually started circulating among people:

US$57.54 ÷ 0.00099 = 58,125.27 BTC

With the current quote of US$109,063.77, the value would be:

58,125.27 × 109,063.77 = US$6,339,361,505.49

Converting to reais:

US$6,339,361,505.49 × 5.36 = R$33,997,995,753.95

Result:

➡️ R$33.99 billion reais.

Summary of scenarios

Scenario A – New Liberty Standard (2009)

• Quote used: 1 USD = 1,309.03 BTC

• BTC purchased: 75,326.85 BTC

• Current value: US$8.21 billion

• Current value in reais: R$44.05 billion

Scenario B – First recorded exchange (2010)

• Quote used: 1 BTC = US$0.00099

• BTC purchased: 58,125.27 BTC

• Current value: US$6.33 billion

• Current value in reais: R$33.99 billion

Why are these numbers so high?

These astronomical values attract attention, but it is important to understand the context.

In 2009, Bitcoin had no active market, and practically no one knew what it was. The 'quote' of 1 USD = 1,309 BTC was theoretical, created only as a reference.

In practice, there were almost no buying and selling platforms, and the asset was exchanged only among programmers and enthusiasts.

Therefore, these calculations are hypothetical — they show the potential for appreciation, but do not mean it would have been easy to buy Bitcoin this way in 2009.

The historical appreciation of Bitcoin

Since its emergence, Bitcoin has appreciated more than 10 billion percent compared to prices in 2009.

It went from an unknown asset, worth fractions of a cent, to one of the most traded digital currencies on the planet, with a market value exceeding US$2 trillion in 2025.

This unprecedented appreciation has made stories like 'who bought pizza with 10,000 BTC' legendary — and sparked the interest of millions of people around the world.

Conclusion

If you had bought R$100 in Bitcoin in 2009, your investment today would be worth between R$33 billion and R$44 billion, depending on the quote considered.

An amount so absurd that it is difficult to imagine.

This calculation serves as a lesson about the impact of innovation, time, and patience on investments.

Even small amounts can yield gigantic results when applied to revolutionary assets — especially in the early stages.

But it also serves as a warning: no one can predict the future, and every investment involves risks.

The secret is to inform yourself, understand what you are buying, and invest with awareness.