DCA is a discipline, not a prediction
The projected number depends entirely on an assumed return crypto rarely delivers smoothly. The real benefit is buying consistently through fear and greed. Plan entries with the DCA calculator.
What a recurring buy actually builds
A savings plan is DCA with a schedule. β¬100 monthly into BTC for five years is β¬6,000 invested β the interesting question is what the volatility does to your average entry. Buying fixed euros means you automatically get more coins when price is low and fewer when it's high, which pulls your average entry below the average price over the period. That's the entire DCA edge, and it's real but modest β typically 2β8% better than the mean price, not a magic multiplier.
The mistake is confusing the plan with a guarantee. DCA into an asset that goes down for five years still loses money β it just loses less than a lump sum at the start. The plan smooths your entry; it doesn't choose the asset for you.
One practical note: exchange recurring buys often charge higher fees than manual spot orders (0.5%+ vs 0.1%). Over 60 monthly buys that fee gap alone is meaningful.
FAQ
How does a crypto savings plan work?
You buy a fixed dollar amount on a schedule (dollar-cost averaging), smoothing out volatility. This projects the future value assuming an average annual return β future value = contribution Γ ((1+r)^n β 1)/r.
Is a fixed return realistic for crypto?
No β crypto returns swing enormously year to year. Use the return field to explore scenarios (pessimistic, base, optimistic), not as a forecast. The value of DCA is discipline, not a guaranteed number.