Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, stands as the most significant figure in the realm of cryptocurrency. Despite his foundational role, he doesn't hold ownership over the Bitcoin project—no one does. Bitcoin operates as software maintained by a decentralized network, meaning no single entity controls its rules. Instead, these rules are collectively agreed upon by the network participants to facilitate transactions.
Who Holds the Most Bitcoin?
Satoshi Nakamoto tops the list of Bitcoin holders with an estimated 1.1 million BTC. As Bitcoin's inventor and the first miner, Satoshi started creating transaction blocks on January 3rd, 2009, amassing over one million BTC through block rewards. This substantial amount is spread across approximately 22,000 addresses, with none spent beyond a few test transactions. Satoshi exited the project in 2010 and has remained silent since.
Prominent Individual Bitcoin Holders
Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss
The Winklevoss twins, known for their 2008 settlement with Mark Zuckerberg involving Facebook shares and cash, transitioned into angel investing. They revealed an $11 million Bitcoin investment at an average cost of $10 per coin. Today, they hold an estimated 70,000 BTC.
Tim Draper
Venture capitalist Tim Draper has a long-standing interest in Bitcoin. His initial purchase of 40,000 BTC at the Mt. Gox exchange was lost due to a hack and bankruptcy. Nevertheless, in 2014, he acquired 29,656 BTC for $18.7 million, at about $632 per coin.
Michael Saylor
MicroStrategy's founder and chairman, Michael Saylor, disclosed in a 2020 tweet that he owned 17,732 BTC. Given his outspoken advocacy for Bitcoin, it is plausible that his holdings have increased since then, although no further updates have been provided.
The Distribution of Bitcoin Wealth
Bitcoin ownership has stratified into various levels based on total holdings. The largest Bitcoin addresses reflect this distribution. Currently, three addresses each hold between 100,000 and 1,000,000 BTC, collectively totaling 577,502 BTC. The next tier, consisting of 102 addresses each holding between 10,000 and 100,000 BTC, accounts for 2,410,577 BTC, approximately 11% of the total Bitcoin supply. Addresses with 10,000 or more BTC are often referred to as "whales."
The dynamics of Bitcoin wealth distribution highlight the decentralized and evolving nature of this digital asset, illustrating the varied and significant stakes held by early adopters and prominent investors alike.
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https://coinpedia.org/research-report/