2026-01-01 14:42:29

When you compound returns over six decades, the numbers start looking almost fictional. A 5 million percent gain across 60 years—that's the kind of mathematical monster that defines one investor's entire legacy in the market. Buffett's decades-long track record stands as a masterclass in patience, discipline, and riding market cycles. The contrast is stark: while most traders chase quarterly wins, this investment philosophy turned small initial stakes into generational wealth. It's not just about the number itself—it's about what it represents. A 5 million percent return reveals the raw power of long-term compounding, the kind of advantage that separates the legendary players from everyone else chasing shortcuts. Whether you're eyeing crypto assets or traditional equities, there's a lesson buried in those six decades: time in the market beats timing the market, and consistent returns destroy flashy trades every single time.

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

15 Likes

Reward
15
7
Repost
Share

Comment

0/400

GasFeeCry

· 10h ago

Honestly, the number 6十年500万% (60 years 5 million percent) makes my scalp tingle, but I also know that most people simply can't wait that long. Does Buffett's approach work for crypto too? I always feel like the crypto world can't accommodate such a slow pace. Compound interest is a time killer, but the premise is that you have to live long enough, haha. Short-term bottom fishing is fun, but this article has made me start to reflect on my trading style... I really should quit frequent trading. So, leaving it alone and letting it grow might actually make money—could this be humanity's greatest enemy? Patience for 60 years; someone else would have gone crazy from market volatility long ago.

View OriginalReply0

GasGoblin

· 10h ago

NGL, this compound interest is truly the king. We short-term hunters will never catch up. --- 60 years 50 million times? Sounds unbelievable, but that's the power of patience. --- Exactly, the question is who can hold on for 60 years without losing heart... --- Crypto is the same. There are too many HODL winners. Those of us doing intraday trading are just here to give away money. --- The most heartbreaking thing is "time in market > timing market." I swear, I kept trying to buy the dip in the past two years, but I lost everything. --- Buffett is the living textbook of compound interest. Ironically, most people simply can't sit still. --- Thinking about my friends who bought those shit coins, hoping to get rich overnight... No matter how I write this article, I can't wake them up.

View OriginalReply0

CryptoPhoenix

· 10h ago

60 years 5 million times... Honestly, it's a bit heartbreaking. In the past two years, my efforts in the crypto world haven't even matched the compound interest of a single quarter for others [laughing]. --- Stop thinking about doubling all the time. Patience is the real skill. I am an experienced person. --- The great way is simplicity—just do nothing. Looking at us, constantly chasing highs and lows, we've really been taught a lesson by the market. --- This is true faith. The biggest test in a bear market is whether you can hold on. I've decided to wait with my eyes closed this year. --- The prerequisite for rebirth is to survive first. Without 60 years of patience, forget it. --- Time exchanges for space; it's easier said than done... I have already started rebuilding my mindset. --- 600 times vs. 5 million times, why is the gap so big? Maybe I didn't find the bottom zone correctly. --- The opportunity is right in front of us, but I was too greedy. Next round, I should listen to my inner voice.

View OriginalReply0

ApeWithAPlan

· 10h ago

NGL, compound interest really is the cheat code of life. Achieving a 500 million percent growth over sixty years—that's why Buffett can sit back and win effortlessly while I'm still chasing highs and selling lows...

View OriginalReply0

YieldWhisperer

· 10h ago

Five million percent growth over sixty years? That number sounds outrageous, but when you break it down, it's clear—compound interest really is the magic of time. Wait, the article later compares crypto to traditional investments? These two are not even the same thing. Time in market > timing market, I agree with this, but the premise is that you have the discipline... most people simply can't do it.

View OriginalReply0

NotFinancialAdviser

· 10h ago

Amazing, a 50 million times return in 60 years. Our generation hasn't even broken even after three months of trading... --- Time in the market > timing the market. I've heard this so many times, but I just can't shake the itchy fingers... --- Compound interest through caching is really a cheat code, but the problem is, how many people can endure 60 years without moving? I definitely can't. --- So the key is to live long enough? This logic doesn't seem wrong, haha. --- NGL, this theory might need to be recalculated for crypto. The risks are on a completely different level. --- What if the small amount of money I initially invested was lost? Luck probably plays a big role too, right? --- It looks very rational, but for ordinary people, playing this patience game is really difficult. --- It's a bit ridiculous to mix crypto and stocks. How many assets in the crypto world have survived over ten years? --- I believe in the principles you talk about, but I trust my ability to make quick money in the short term even more... Maybe I'm overconfident.

View OriginalReply0

SilentObserver

· 10h ago

Really, looking at Buffett's numbers over the past 60 years just makes me laugh. People like us who are impatient and eager for quick gains can't even play at this level. Compounding is easy to say but also hard to do—it's just about being patient, that's all. I wonder how many people can truly hold for 60 years without losing their patience? Anyway, I can't. I've understood the theory of time exchanging for money a long time ago. The question is, can you wait for it? People in crypto right now are really impatient, doing the exact opposite—everyone wants to tenfold their investment in a year. Talking about market timing versus waiting for the right entry point is not wrong, but first, you have to survive those ten years.

View OriginalReply0