Most people are trading generational wealth for a 6% 401(k) match, and believe they are winning...

As much as I hate comparing Bitcoin to fiat, there are too many Bitcoiners who opt into their employer-sponsored retirement plan instead of stacking the coin and genuinely think they are winning the trade.

I ran the numbers comparing a traditional 401(k) (with a very generous employer match) against simply stacking Bitcoin with post-tax fiat.

Assumptions:

-$100k salary, 6% employee contribution

-Employer matches 6% (total $12k/year into the 401(k))

-401(k) grows at 7% CAGR

-Bitcoin grows at just 30% CAGR (a fraction of its 5-year average of 57%)

-Bitcoin is bought after taxes (25% tax haircut up front)

After 10 years:

401(k): ~$166k pre-tax → ~$124k after taxes

Bitcoin: $192k post-tax

Bitcoin still outperformed by ~$67,000 (54%) — despite contributing half as much annually.

-This was extremely generous to the 401(k) and very conservative toward Bitcoin.

Yet the prevailing wisdom — even in many Bitcoin circles like r/Bitcoin — is that you should take the immediate 'gain' and opt into your employer-sponsored plan.

That’s how early we are.

-We’re not just in a parallel financial system — we’re in a parallel reality.

NYKNYC

#Bitcoin #FiatTrap #Retirement #StackSats #Nostr