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Bitcoin IRA calculator: what the wrapper is worth

The same bitcoin held three ways. What changes is when the IRS gets paid.

What happens at the end?

$100,000
$7,000
20 years
20%
32%
24%
20%

You choose the growth rate. It is not an Onramp forecast.

After-tax value if withdrawn in that year

Taxable accountTraditional IRARoth IRATotal contributed
$0$2M$4M$6MNow5y10y15y20y

How the gap compounds

Year 7Year 13Year 20Roth IRA$449k$1.41M$5.14MAdvantage+$60k+$244k+$980k

After 20 years, the roth ira keeps

+$980k

more than the same bitcoin in a taxable account $5,140,576 versus $4,160,461 after tax.

Based on the assumptions you set. Not a forecast.

Taxable account$4.16M

$980k tax · Capital gains tax due when you sell

Traditional IRA$4.25M

$1.31M tax · Ordinary income tax due on withdrawal

Roth IRA$5.14M

$0 tax · No tax due on a qualified withdrawal

What this does not model

Contribution and income eligibility limits, required minimum distributions from age 73, state and local taxes, the 3.8% net investment income tax, early-withdrawal penalties before age 59½, and Onramp or administrator fees. The starting balance is treated as already inside each account, so the tax cost of a Roth conversion is not modelled. Under the SECURE Act most heirs must empty an inherited IRA within ten years; the calculator treats it as a single event rather than modelling that schedule, and assumes constant tax rates throughout.

The Legacy Layer, our research report on Bitcoin IRAs and estate planning, covers what happens when the account passes to heirs.

Onramp IRA accounts hold bitcoin itself, secured by Multi-Institution Custody. See how the Onramp Bitcoin IRA works.

Illustrative only. This calculator is an educational tool, not tax, legal, or investment advice, and it is not a projection of the returns any Onramp account will achieve. The growth rate is an assumption you choose, not a forecast. Bitcoin is volatile and does not compound in a straight line. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult a qualified tax or financial professional about your own circumstances.