Here are some of the most notable Bitcoin holders, including individuals and corporations, along with their approximate holdings and the current market value (as of early 2024):
1. Satoshi Nakamoto
• Bitcoin Holdings: 1.1 million BTC
• Current Value: Estimated at around $65 billion.
• Satoshi, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin, holds the largest amount of BTC. However, these coins remain untouched, likely to maintain anonymity and to uphold the decentralized spirit of Bitcoin .
2. Michael Saylor and MicroStrategy
• Individual Holdings: Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy, reportedly holds around 17,000 BTC.
• Company Holdings: MicroStrategy holds approximately 193,000 BTC.
• Current Value: MicroStrategy’s BTC is valued at over $13 billion.
• Saylor and MicroStrategy have been significant advocates for Bitcoin, often promoting its use as a corporate treasury asset .
3. Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and Binance
• Company Holdings: Binance holds various cold wallet addresses, one of which contains approximately 180,010 BTC.
• Current Value: Binance’s BTC holdings are valued at roughly $11.3 billion.
• CZ, the CEO of Binance, is a well-known figure in the cryptocurrency space, and Binance holds one of the largest Bitcoin reserves among crypto exchanges .
4. The Winklevoss Twins
• Bitcoin Holdings: Estimated between 100,000 and 200,000 BTC, with an approximate current worth of around $6 billion.
• Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss invested heavily in Bitcoin back in 2012. Today, they are considered among the most prominent individual BTC holders and are advocates for cryptocurrency through their company, Gemini .
5. Elon Musk and Tesla
• Company Holdings: Tesla holds around 9,720 BTC.
• Current Value: Approximately $662 million.
• Elon Musk, while vocal about environmental concerns related to Bitcoin mining, holds Bitcoin both personally and through Tesla. He has stated his intent to hold long-term .
6. Tim Draper
• Bitcoin Holdings: Around 30,000 BTC, valued at approximately $1.8 billion.
• The venture capitalist purchased these BTC in a 2014 U.S. Marshals auction. Draper remains a vocal supporter of Bitcoin and blockchain technology .
7. Countries with Bitcoin Holdings
• El Salvador: Holds approximately 2,546 BTC, valued around $150 million.
• Ukraine: Through public donations and holdings, it has amassed over 46,000 BTC, worth around $3 billion.
• These countries have embraced Bitcoin either as legal tender or as a strategic asset, contributing to the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency .
These high-profile holders reflect the diversity in Bitcoin ownership, from anonymous creators to corporate treasuries and national reserves, showcasing Bitcoin’s global appeal and financial significance.