BCBetter Calculators

Crypto DCA Calculator

Calculate the outcome of dollar-cost averaging into cryptocurrency.

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Enter your values and click Calculate

How It Works

Total Invested = Periodic Amount × Number of Purchases. Coins Accumulated = Total Invested ÷ Average Buy Price. Current Value = Coins Accumulated × Current Price. Profit = Current Value − Total Invested. ROI = (Profit ÷ Total Invested) × 100. Worked example: $100 invested weekly for 12 weeks at an average buy price of $45,000 per BTC, with BTC now at $65,000. Total Invested = $100 × 12 = $1,200. Coins Accumulated = $1,200 ÷ $45,000 = 0.026667 BTC. Current Value = 0.026667 × $65,000 = $1,733.33. Profit = $533.33. ROI = 44.4%. The Average Buy Price field represents your true cost basis — the dollar-weighted average of all purchase prices. If you bought equal dollar amounts at $40,000, $50,000, and $45,000, your average buy price is $45,000. This is the harmonic mean of prices weighted by dollar amount, which is always lower than the simple arithmetic mean of prices. That mathematical property is the core reason DCA tends to produce favorable average cost compared to an equal-share purchase at every price level.

Examples

Monthly BTC DCA
$100/month for 12 months at an average buy price of $45,000, BTC now $65,000.
Result: Invested $1,200 → current value ~$1,733. ROI ~44.4%. 0.02667 BTC accumulated.
Weekly ETH DCA
$50/week for 52 weeks at an average buy price of $2,000, ETH now $3,500.
Result: Invested $2,600 → current value ~$4,550. ROI ~75%. 1.3 ETH accumulated.
Two-Year Monthly BTC Plan
$500/month for 24 months at an average buy price of $30,000, BTC now $65,000.
Result: Invested $12,000 → current value ~$26,000. ROI ~117%. 0.4 BTC accumulated over two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use DCA instead of lump sum?
DCA reduces the risk of buying at the top of a market cycle. By spreading purchases over time, you average in across multiple price levels rather than betting your entire allocation on a single entry point. Research on traditional equity markets shows that lump-sum investing outperforms DCA roughly two-thirds of the time in rising markets, but DCA significantly outperforms when the purchase window spans a market peak — a scenario that is hard to identify in advance and common in crypto's volatile cycles.
How often should I DCA?
Weekly and monthly are the most popular frequencies. More frequent purchases — daily or multiple times per week — further smooth your average cost but may result in higher total transaction fees, which reduces effective returns. Many exchanges now offer recurring buy features with zero or minimal fees for scheduled purchases. Choose a frequency you can maintain consistently regardless of market conditions; the discipline of continuing to buy during bear markets is where DCA delivers its greatest long-term benefit.
Does DCA guarantee profit?
No — DCA is a risk-management technique, not a profit guarantee. If the asset price falls below your average buy price and stays there, you will be at a loss regardless of how methodically you averaged in. DCA reduces the risk of catastrophic timing at a market peak but cannot protect against a fundamental decline in the underlying asset. It is best applied to assets you believe will appreciate over a multi-year horizon, where short-term volatility is the primary risk you want to mitigate.

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