US Bitcoin ETFs Surpass Satoshi Nakamoto in BTC Holdings
United States spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have achieved a significant milestone, collectively holding more Bitcoin than is estimated to be owned by Bitcoin’s anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Since the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January, their total holdings have exceeded 1.1 million BTC, Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas shared on X on Dec. 6, citing market data from Shaun Edmondson.
“The US spot ETFs have now surpassed Satoshi in total Bitcoin held, reaching over 1.1 million BTC — more than anyone in the world — and they’re not even a year old yet. Mind-blowing,” Balchunas commented.
Data from Bitcoin ETF tracking platform HODL15Capital supports this milestone, revealing that as of Dec. 5, spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively held 1,103,965 BTC.
Satoshi Nakamoto’s Estimated Bitcoin Holdings
Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s anonymous creator, is believed to have mined around 1.1 million BTC, or 5.2% of the total Bitcoin supply, according to analysts. These holdings have long been considered among the largest in the world.
However, the combined BTC holdings of US spot Bitcoin ETFs have now overtaken Nakamoto’s, marking a historic shift in Bitcoin distribution. The ETFs also hold 42% more Bitcoin than Binance, the global crypto exchange, and 63% more than MicroStrategy, a major corporate BTC holder.
Debate Around Satoshi’s Identity and Status
The mystery surrounding Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity persists, with some speculating that Nakamoto may no longer be alive. Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital, expressed his belief that Nakamoto has passed away during a CNBC interview on Dec. 5.
“If Satoshi was alive — though I don’t think he is — he’d surely have a big smile on his face,” Novogratz remarked, referring to Bitcoin surpassing $100,000 for the first time.
As Bitcoin ETFs continue to grow in influence, their role in shaping the market and surpassing even Bitcoin’s creator underscores the transformative power of institutional adoption in the crypto space.
