Coal in Old School RuneScape has, in theory, outperformed cryptocurrency Ethereum this year
PC Gamer published a satirical comparison highlighting how Old School RuneScape’s in-game currency has theoretically outperformed Ethereum this year. The article notes that a player purchasing OSRS bonds, converting them to gold, and selling that currency for real money would have achieved better returns than investing in the cryptocurrency—despite this strategy violating RuneScape’s terms of service.
The comparison serves as commentary on cryptocurrency’s poor performance in 2026, with Ethereum experiencing significant losses and the broader crypto market facing widespread skepticism. It underscores the contrast between established virtual economies with decades of player activity and speculative digital assets dominated by market volatility.
While presented tongue-in-cheek, the observation touches on real issues surrounding real money trading (RMT) in MMORPGs and questions about the relative stability of game economies versus cryptocurrencies. Old School RuneScape’s longevity—now over two decades old—demonstrates the staying power of traditional in-game economies compared to the instability characterizing cryptocurrency markets, which have lost mainstream investor confidence.