A recent investment experiment by MarketWise analyzed the performance of 21 different assets, including cryptocurrency, stocks, ETFs, and collectibles, from January 2021 through April 2026. The results showed that the top performer was Solana, with a return of +3,476%, while the worst performer was Bed Bath & Beyond, with a return of -100%.

Investment Returns

The experiment included a hypothetical $10,000 investment in each of the 21 assets, held from January 4, 2021, through April 2026. The returns were calculated per unit using secondary market or ETF closing prices, with no dividends, rebalancing, or dollar-cost averaging applied.

The results revealed a market shaped as much by timing and hype as by fundamentals, with outcomes that ranged from life-changing gains to total losses. Other notable performers included XRP, with a return of +524%, and GameStop, with a return of +469%.

In contrast, some assets performed poorly, including AMC, which had a return of -91%, and Shining Fates Charizard, which had a return of -59%.

The experiment also included collectibles, such as Pokémon cards and sneakers, which showed varying degrees of success. A sealed Pokémon box, for example, had a return of +1,750%, while a Moonbreon (raw) card had a return of +712%.

The results of the experiment highlight the importance of careful investment planning and research, as well as the potential risks and rewards of investing in different types of assets.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.