Bitcoin whale holdings revealed: Who holds the most Bitcoin?

Satoshi Nakamoto embedded approximately 1.1 million bitcoins in the Genesis Block, assets that have not been moved to this day. Meanwhile, a publicly listed company called MicroStrategy holds over 130,000 bitcoins, making it the “biggest holder” in the corporate world.

Whale Influence

In the world of Bitcoin, “whale” specifically refers to individuals, institutions, or entities holding large amounts of Bitcoin. Since the total supply of Bitcoin is strictly limited to 21 million coins, the movements of these whales can often have a significant impact on the market.

According to blockchain data, as of now, about 5% of the total Bitcoin supply is believed to be held by the mysterious creator Satoshi Nakamoto. The top five Bitcoin wallet addresses collectively hold nearly 1.5% of the total supply.

Based on the latest data as of January 7, 2026, the price of Bitcoin is shown as $92,679 on the Gate platform. The price volatility is closely related to the holdings of large investors and overall market sentiment.

Satoshi Nakamoto: The Mysterious Principal Holder

The creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, is widely regarded as the largest single holder of Bitcoin. Blockchain analysis indicates that Satoshi mined approximately 1.1 million bitcoins in the early days, distributed across thousands of wallet addresses. This means Satoshi personally may control about 5% of the total Bitcoin supply. These bitcoins have never been moved or spent since the end of 2010, making it one of the biggest mysteries in the cryptocurrency field.

The dormant state of these massive bitcoins is seen as a “stabilizer” for the market on one hand, but also raises community concerns about their potential future circulation. However, most analysts believe that Satoshi’s bitcoins may never be actively used.

Individual Whales: Publicly Known Bitcoin Tycoons

Apart from the anonymous Satoshi, some publicly known individuals also hold large amounts of Bitcoin. The Winklevoss brothers are prominent figures in the crypto space; according to Forbes, the twin brothers hold at least 70,000 bitcoins. They started heavily investing in Bitcoin in 2013 and founded the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini.

Tim Draper, a well-known tech investor, bought 29,500 bitcoins when the U.S. government auctioned off seized bitcoins from the Silk Road in 2014. He has been a steadfast supporter of Bitcoin, frequently predicting that its price will reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Corporate Holders: Public Companies’ Bitcoin Strategies

Companies have become an important force in Bitcoin holdings, especially as listed companies include Bitcoin as part of their balance sheet asset allocation. MicroStrategy is a leader in this trend; this business intelligence firm began purchasing Bitcoin in August 2020 and currently holds about 130,000 bitcoins, worth over $6.8 billion. Its CEO, Michael Saylor, is a well-known advocate of Bitcoin.

Tesla bought $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin in early 2021, approximately 9,720 bitcoins. Although it later sold some, Tesla remains one of the major corporate Bitcoin holders.

Block (formerly Square) holds about 8,000 bitcoins, with CEO Jack Dorsey being a long-term supporter of cryptocurrency. As one of North America’s largest centralized crypto exchanges, Coinbase’s financial reports show it holds about 9,000 bitcoins.

Government Holdings: National Bitcoin Reserves

Besides individuals and corporations, some national governments also hold significant amounts of Bitcoin, often obtained through law enforcement actions against illegal activities.

The U.S. government currently holds about 214,000 bitcoins, mainly seized from illegal markets like Silk Road. This accounts for roughly 1% of the total Bitcoin supply, making it one of the largest national holders worldwide. Although China banned cryptocurrency trading in 2021, it is estimated to still hold about 194,000 bitcoins, mainly from crackdowns on illegal online activities.

Bulgaria seized over 200,000 bitcoins in 2017, assets obtained from criminal investigations, which at one point exceeded its gold reserves. El Salvador was the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender and has been accumulating Bitcoin since 2021, holding about 2,380 bitcoins. The country employs a “buy the dip” strategy, regularly purchasing Bitcoin.

Distribution of Bitcoin Holders and Future Outlook

According to Glassnode data, by the end of 2025, the number of addresses holding more than 1 bitcoin has grown to over 1 million. The number of addresses holding at least 0.01 bitcoin exceeds 12 million. Although there are over 1 billion Bitcoin wallet addresses, since one person can own multiple addresses, the actual number of individual holders is difficult to determine precisely. According to Chainalysis, approximately 320 million people worldwide hold some form of cryptocurrency.

Notably, about 78% of Bitcoin is controlled by long-term holders who have not moved their coins in the past 155 days or more. This “HODL” behavior reflects market confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term value. With the completion of the 2024 Bitcoin halving event, the rate of new Bitcoin issuance will slow further. The increasing scarcity and expanding institutional adoption may further strengthen the influence of large holders in the market.

Price Trends and Market Dynamics

As of January 7, 2026, Bitcoin’s trading price on Gate is approximately $92,679, with a 24-hour trading volume of about $1.298 billion; the overall market remains oscillating above $90,000. Market data shows that Bitcoin’s price at the beginning of the year fluctuated within roughly $88,000–$94,500, exhibiting a typical range-bound pattern; recent prices near $94,000 face some selling pressure but have not yet broken through a clear trend.

Technically, key short-term resistance is around $94,500–$95,000; breaking this level could open upward space. Important support levels are near $90,000–$92,000. Market sentiment indicators like the Fear & Greed Index remain in a neutral to cautious zone, indicating that investors have yet to form a consensus bias. Technical indicators (such as RSI, Bollinger Bands) show prices approaching the upper band, suggesting potential short-term pullback pressure.

In the derivatives market, open interest and options positions indicate increased institutional participation, but overall open interest has fluctuated over recent months; some data show growth in futures open interest for specific contracts, but overall leverage levels in the derivatives market are cautious compared to previous cycles.

Volatility measures, both implied and realized, have declined from recent highs, reflecting a short-term easing of trading activity and uncertainty, but remain above historical lows, indicating that risk events could still cause significant price movements. (BlockBeats)

Overall, Bitcoin’s price consolidates above $90,000, with a neutral market structure; a confirmed breakout above resistance with increased volume could signal a new trend; a breakdown below key support might trigger deeper corrections.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced a “daily dollar-cost averaging” Bitcoin plan in 2023, demonstrating the country’s long-term holding strategy. Meanwhile, the number of Bitcoin ATMs worldwide has exceeded 35,000, with Bitcoin visible on street corners from Sydney to São Paulo. As spot Bitcoin ETFs gain recognition among traditional financial institutions, an ordinary person holding just 0.01 Bitcoin (about $528) is also becoming part of this decentralized financial revolution.