Gold and bitcoin have emerged as the top-performing assets of 2025, according to Market Radar, citing Bloomberg data. Gold surged 27% and bitcoin rose 24.3%, outpacing equities, bonds, and commodities. Analysts say the rally reflects global uncertainty, Trump-era tariffs, and rising investor interest in crypto.
The financial blog has shared a snapshot of the year-to-date (YTD) returns across major asset classes, including gold, bitcoin, equities, bonds, commodities, and currencies, outlining which investments have performed the strongest so far.
According to Market Radar, data is in local currency as of August 15, 2025.
Ranking of 2025 YTD Leaders
According to Market Radar, the YTD total returns of selected assets are:
1. Gold – Commodities – 27.0%
2. Bitcoin – Crypto – 24.3%
3. MSCI World All-Country – Equities – 14.7%
4. S&P 500 Growth – Equities – 14.1%
5. Nasdaq 100 – Equities – 13.4%
6. Stoxx Europe 600 – Equities – 12.2%
7. S&P 500 – Equities – 10.5%
8. S&P 500 Equal Weight – Equities – 7.1%
9. Global Aggregate Bond – Bond – 6.9%
10. S&P 500 Value – Equities – 6.6%
11. US HY Bond – Bond – 5.5%
12. US Corporate Bond – Bond – 5.0%
13. US Government Bond – Bond – 3.9%
14. Russell 2000 – Equities – 3.4%
15. US Dollar Index – Currencies – -9.6%
16. WTI Oil – Commodities – -12.1%
Gold’s Rally Amid Trump Tariffs And Global Uncertainty
The recent rally in gold reflects investors’ preference for safe-haven assets during times of instability. In 2025, rising inflation, intensifying trade tensions, and concerns over global GDP growth have added to its appeal.
According to market analysts, gold has always been a go-to asset during periods of economic and geopolitical turmoil.
The Rise of Bitcoin and Ongoing Volatility
Bitcoin has also drawn significant attention, with its gains partly linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance. Despite this momentum, concerns about its stability remain.
Analysts have pointed out that Bitcoin remains highly volatile and lacks intrinsic value, while some market experts argue the digital asset is increasingly being seen as an alternative to gold.
Disclaimer: This article is not financial advice but is for informational purposes only, based on expert views.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
