U.S. Bitcoin ETFs Surpass Satoshi Nakamoto in BTC Holdings

By Cot-Trading - Friday, December 6, 2024 - No Comments

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States have reached a significant milestone, surpassing the Bitcoin holdings attributed to the cryptocurrency's mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.

Since the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. market earlier this year, these funds have amassed over 1.1 million BTC. This development, highlighted by Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas on X (formerly Twitter) on December 6, marks a historic achievement. Balchunas, referencing market expert Shaun Edmondson, remarked, “The US spot ETFs have just passed Satoshi in total bitcoin held, now holding more than 1.1 million BTC — more than anyone else globally — and they’re not even a year old. It’s incredible.”

Supporting this claim, Bitcoin ETF tracker HODL15Capital reported that as of December 5, spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively held approximately 1,103,965 BTC.

Satoshi Nakamoto's Bitcoin Holdings

Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous figure behind Bitcoin, is credited with initiating the first BTC transaction in January 2009. Beyond their role as Bitcoin’s creator, Nakamoto is recognized as one of the largest individual holders of the cryptocurrency. Analysts estimate Nakamoto-associated wallets contain around 1.1 million BTC, equivalent to roughly 5.2% of Bitcoin’s total supply of 21 million coins.According to data shared by Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs now hold 42% more Bitcoin than the global cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Additionally, their combined Bitcoin holdings surpass those of MicroStrategy—one of the largest corporate BTC holders—by 63%.

Speculation About Satoshi Nakamoto's Status

The identity of Bitcoin’s enigmatic creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, remains a mystery despite years of speculation and investigative efforts, including by HBO. Some, however, believe Nakamoto is no longer alive.

Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital—a firm that operates its own spot Bitcoin ETF—shared this belief during a CNBC interview on December 5. Reflecting on Bitcoin’s record-breaking price exceeding $100,000, Novogratz said, “If Satoshi was alive — because I don’t think he is — I’m sure he’d have a big smile on his face.”

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