Who Owns the Most Bitcoin?

Bitcoin (BTC) remains one of the most popular cryptocurrencies of the 21st century, despite experiencing steep price corrections over the years. With a limited supply of 21 million coins, large Bitcoin holders, often referred to as "whales," have significant influence over the world's largest cryptocurrency. This article explores the major Bitcoin holders and provides insights into Bitcoin ownership across individuals, companies, and countries.

Who Owns the Most Bitcoin in the World?

Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin's mysterious creator, is believed to hold the largest amount of BTC. Estimates suggest that Nakamoto's portfolio comprises at least 1 million BTC, accounting for approximately 5% of BTC's total supply. These coins are believed to be stored across thousands of crypto wallets.

Nakamoto's large Bitcoin holdings stem from the early days of Bitcoin mining when block rewards were set at 50 BTC every 10 minutes. As the sole miner during Bitcoin's infancy, Nakamoto accumulated a significant amount of BTC before leaving the project in December 2010.

Who Are the Individuals with the Most Bitcoin?

While many large Bitcoin wallet addresses remain anonymous, some prominent individuals have disclosed their substantial BTC holdings:

1. The Winklevoss twins: Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are estimated to own at least 70,000 BTC.
2. Tim Draper: This tech investor purchased over 29,500 BTC from the U.S. government after the Silk Road seizure.
3. A prominent cryptocurrency exchange CEO: Known to be an early Bitcoin adopter, having invested heavily in BTC since 2015.

What Companies Are the Biggest Bitcoin Holders?

Several businesses have also accumulated significant Bitcoin holdings:

1. MicroStrategy: Led by CEO Michael Saylor, this software company holds approximately 130,000 BTC in its reserves.
2. Tesla: The company's Bitcoin holdings have fluctuated over time.
3. Coinbase: North America's largest centralized crypto exchange holds a substantial amount of BTC. As of 2025, Coinbase's exact Bitcoin holdings are not publicly disclosed, but they are known to be one of the largest institutional holders of Bitcoin.
4. Block (formerly Square): The fintech platform owns a significant amount of BTC.

What Country Owns the Most Bitcoin?

While most countries don't recognize Bitcoin as legal tender, several government agencies hold significant amounts of BTC:

1. United States: The U.S. government holds a substantial amount of BTC, accounting for a notable percentage of Bitcoin's total supply.
2. China: Despite restrictions on crypto trading, China has a significant amount of BTC in its reserves.
3. Bulgaria: After a series of raids on criminal organizations, Bulgaria seized a large amount of BTC.
4. El Salvador: The first country to make Bitcoin legal tender, El Salvador continues to hold BTC in its reserves.

How Many People Own Bitcoin?

As of 2025, blockchain analytics suggest that:

• The total number of Bitcoin wallet addresses has continued to grow since 2022.
• A significant number of wallets hold 1 BTC or more.
• A substantial percentage of the global population holds some form of cryptocurrency.

Recent global cryptocurrency adoption indices indicate that various countries have high rates of cryptocurrency ownership, with the rankings potentially changing since 2022.

Conclusion

Bitcoin ownership is distributed among various entities, including individuals, companies, and governments. While Satoshi Nakamoto is believed to be the largest individual holder, institutional adoption continues to grow. As Bitcoin gains more mainstream acceptance, the landscape of ownership is likely to evolve, potentially impacting the cryptocurrency's future trajectory and market dynamics. Notably, companies like Coinbase play a significant role in the Bitcoin ecosystem, though their exact holdings may fluctuate over time.

FAQ

Who owns the most bitcoins?

Satoshi Nakamoto owns the most bitcoins, with an estimated 968,452 BTC. MicroStrategy and ETFs also hold significant amounts.