Filecoin (FIL) Historical Price and Return Analysis: Should I Buy FIL Now?

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive review of Filecoin’s historical price movements and market volatility since its inception, combining data from bull and bear market phases to evaluate the potential returns for investors purchasing 10 FIL tokens. It addresses the critical question: “Should I buy Filecoin now?” to help both newcomers and long-term investors identify optimal entry points and growth opportunities.

Early Market Genesis and Initial Cycles: Historical Price Overview (2017 to 2022)

Filecoin is a token built on the IPFS network, designed to reward miners who contribute idle hard drive storage capacity. It operates on a novel proof-of-work algorithm where miners with larger storage capacity receive proportionally greater FIL rewards. According to historical records, FIL’s earliest trading price was approximately $15.00 in 2017.

The following represents Filecoin’s price performance during its early market phases:

2017

• Opening Price: $15.00
• Closing Price: $20.47
• Highest Price: $24.60
• Lowest Price: $10.14
• Annual Return: 36.47%

2018

• Opening Price: $26.42
• Closing Price: $3.72
• Highest Price: $26.56
• Lowest Price: $3.10
• Annual Return: -85.90%

An investor who purchased 10 FIL tokens during the 2017 early bull market phase would face a loss of $136.75 if selling today. The severe correction in 2018 demonstrates the extreme volatility characteristic of early-stage crypto assets.

Bear Market Adjustment and Mid-Cycle Volatility: Return and Risk Analysis (2019 to 2022)

During this extended period, Filecoin experienced significant price volatility, reflecting broader cryptocurrency market cycles and evolving investor sentiment toward storage-based mining protocols.

Potential returns for investors who purchased 10 FIL tokens during specific years in this phase:

• 2019: -$21.86
• 2020: -$53.90
• 2021: -$220.95
• 2022: -$288.75

2019

• Opening Price: $3.51
• Closing Price: $6.44
• Highest Price: $10.04
• Lowest Price: $3.51
• Annual Return: 83.31%

2020

• Opening Price: $6.71
• Closing Price: $21.41
• Highest Price: $38.54
• Lowest Price: $5.39
• Annual Return: 218.84%

2021

• Opening Price: $23.42
• Closing Price: $35.75
• Highest Price: $182.86
• Lowest Price: $22.24
• Annual Return: 52.65%

2022

• Opening Price: $30.20
• Closing Price: $3.11
• Highest Price: $30.39
• Lowest Price: $2.96
• Annual Return: -89.71%

Recent Market Cycle: Should I Buy Filecoin Now? (2023 to 2025)

In recent years, Filecoin has exhibited a prolonged downtrend, with significant price erosion from its 2021 peak of $182.86. The cryptocurrency market has grappled with regulatory pressures, macroeconomic headwinds, and shifting investor appetite for decentralized storage solutions.

2023

• Opening Price: $3.45
• Closing Price: $6.92
• Highest Price: $8.46
• Lowest Price: $3.11
• Annual Return: 100.66%

2024

• Opening Price: $5.62
• Closing Price: $5.91
• Highest Price: $10.68
• Lowest Price: $3.34
• Annual Return: 5.12%

2025 (to date)

• Opening Price: $5.09
• Closing Price: $1.32
• Highest Price: $5.09
• Lowest Price: $1.28
• Annual Return: -73.95%

Potential returns for investors who purchased 10 FIL tokens during this recent cycle:

• 2023: -$21.22
• 2024: -$42.98
• 2025 (to date): -$37.62

Summary: Bull Markets, Bear Markets, and Investment Timing Analysis

Filecoin’s price trajectory from 2017 to 2025 reveals a dramatic boom-and-bust cycle, with the asset reaching its zenith of $182.86 in 2021 before experiencing sustained depreciation. Investors who purchased at various points have uniformly faced negative returns when measured against current valuations, suggesting that optimal entry points have been elusive. The recent sharp decline in 2025, with a year-to-date return of -73.95%, underscores ongoing bearish sentiment and fundamental challenges facing the project’s adoption and utility proposition.