

Bitcoin (BTC) remains one of the most popular cryptocurrencies of the 21st century, despite experiencing price fluctuations 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.
It is widely believed that Bitcoin's mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, holds the largest amount of BTC. Estimates suggest that Nakamoto's portfolio comprises at least 1 million BTC, distributed across thousands of crypto wallets. This accounts for approximately 5% of BTC's total supply.
Nakamoto launched Bitcoin in 2009, a year after publishing the whitepaper "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System." The creation of new BTC through mining and the gradual reduction of block rewards through "halvenings" have shaped Bitcoin's supply dynamics. Nakamoto's early mining activities in 2009, when few people knew about BTC, allowed them to accumulate a substantial amount of Bitcoin.
While many large Bitcoin wallet addresses remain anonymous, some prominent individuals have revealed their significant BTC holdings:
Several businesses have also accumulated substantial Bitcoin holdings:
While most countries don't recognize Bitcoin as legal tender, some government agencies hold significant amounts of BTC:
As of 2025, blockchain analytics suggest that the total number of Bitcoin wallet addresses has continued to grow, with a significant number of wallets holding 1 BTC or more. However, since individuals can create multiple wallet addresses, it's challenging to determine the exact number of Bitcoin owners.
Recent estimates indicate that a growing percentage of the global population holds some form of cryptocurrency. Countries with high rates of cryptocurrency ownership include Vietnam, the Philippines, Ukraine, India, and the United States.
Bitcoin ownership is distributed among various entities, including individuals, companies, and countries. While Satoshi Nakamoto is believed to be the largest Bitcoin holder, other significant players have emerged in the Bitcoin ecosystem. As Bitcoin continues to gain popularity, the landscape of Bitcoin ownership is likely to evolve, potentially impacting the cryptocurrency's future dynamics and adoption rates.
Satoshi Nakamoto owns the most Bitcoin, with an estimated 968,452 BTC. Some coins are lost forever, reducing the total supply.
Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin's creator, is believed to own 1.1 million BTC, the largest known single holding.
Satoshi Nakamoto, with an estimated 968,452 BTC, making them the largest individual Bitcoin holder.











