Old School RuneScape: coal outpaces Ethereum in annual growth
Intelligence Summary
- OSRS coal has outpaced Ethereum in annual growth. See what it means for the game economy and rising player demand.
Old School RuneScape: coal outpaces Ethereum in annual growth
In a striking development, Old School RuneScape (OSRS) has seen a notable increase in the value of a key in-game resource: coal. From May 2025 to May 2026, OSRS coal outpaced Ethereum, one of the world’s most popular cryptocurrencies, in annual growth. The news was highlighted by an official account from digital trading platform Arkham.
Comparison of growth
The growth was measured between May 2025 and May 2026. During this period, Ethereum rose by about 31.84 percent, while coal in Old School RuneScape posted growth of 42.65 percent. These figures come from CoinMarketCap for cryptocurrencies and the Grand Exchange Tracker on the Old School RuneScape wiki, which tracks the value of in-game goods.
Why has coal’s value risen?
The increase in coal’s value can be attributed to steady in-game demand. Coal is essential for players who want to smelt various metals beyond iron. For many, mining coal is a time-consuming task, so there is constant demand for the resource to support gear progression. Players looking to improve their characters often turn to the Grand Exchange to buy coal, which helps drive demand and push prices higher for both casual players and more dedicated efficiency-focused players.
The popularity of Old School RuneScape
Alongside the rise in coal’s value, the game itself has recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. That can partly be linked to the launch of the latest temporary game mode, Leagues, which came close to matching the all-time peak player count. More players mean greater demand for coal, which can further increase its price.
Timeline
May 2025: Start of the growth in coal and Ethereum values.
May 2026: OSRS coal rises 42.65%; Ethereum rises 31.84%.
Recent: Launch of the Leagues game mode with high player activity.
While some players may find it appealing to invest in Old School RuneScape by buying bonds—microtransactions that can be sold for premium membership—pulling money out of the game remains difficult because the rules prohibit selling in-game currency. Unlike Ethereum, which can be bought and sold across multiple platforms, the digital currency also carries a reputation for volatility and risks such as lost encryption keys.
In short, OSRS coal’s recent performance compared with Ethereum raises questions about the value of digital and in-game goods. Coal’s role as a tangible item within the game world makes for an interesting discussion about the quirks of both game economies and the cryptocurrency market.
