1) is dated 1996, the S&P started on 614 and ended on 766. It would never be as low as it was then.
Had you put $1k in at the peak in 2000 then you'd be below water for 12 years, but by now 22 years later you'd have $3300.
Had you instead dripped $50 in each year since 2000 you'd have $3500.
If you'd have put that $1k in a bank returning around the fed funds rate, you'd have about $1400. Dripping it in would be about $1300.
To be down over the course of 15 years, you'd have to go back to the 1926-1930. Even putting your entire life savings into the stock market on Jan 1st 1929 you'd be above water after 23 years, would have doubled your money in 30 years, and quadroupled it in 40 years.
The market still seems to be in price discovery for crypto. Also, I wouldn't use crypto as an investment for some of the same reasons I wouldn't use dollars.
Had you put $1k in at the peak in 2000 then you'd be below water for 12 years, but by now 22 years later you'd have $3300.
Had you instead dripped $50 in each year since 2000 you'd have $3500.
If you'd have put that $1k in a bank returning around the fed funds rate, you'd have about $1400. Dripping it in would be about $1300.
To be down over the course of 15 years, you'd have to go back to the 1926-1930. Even putting your entire life savings into the stock market on Jan 1st 1929 you'd be above water after 23 years, would have doubled your money in 30 years, and quadroupled it in 40 years.