Who Holds Bitcoin Today: Top Companies with BTC Assets

Bitcoin (BTC) has emerged as a promising investment tool, valued by many despite its high volatility, unique positioning, and relatively recent arrival on the market. While various governments still deliberate on Bitcoin’s future status and regulatory direction, leading global entrepreneurs are increasingly adding it to their investment portfolios. Here, we explore the largest BTC holders among the corporations and why the “hunt for Bitcoin” remains highly relevant.

The Largest Bitcoin Wallet: Individual, Company, or Nation?

Currently, Bitcoin’s largest holder is believed to be its mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Whether Nakamoto is an individual, a company, or a group, this entity is estimated by Coinodex to hold around 0.6-1.1 million BTC. However, these assets are considered “dormant,” as no transactions have been recorded from this stash.

Other notable holders include the Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler. They currently hold about 1% of Bitcoin’s total market supply, a highly profitable investment they made back in 2013 when 1 BTC was worth only $120. Their initial $11 million investment has since appreciated dramatically.

The largest corporate Bitcoin holder today is MicroStrategy Inc., with over 226,800 BTC as of Q2 2024. We’ll discuss this company further below. The United States government is also among the world’s largest BTC holders. According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Federal Government’s BTC reserves are valued at over $5 billion.

Top 5 Bitcoin Holders: Companies and Funds

Here are the top five of the most influential Bitcoin holders globally:

1. MicroStrategy: 226,500 BTC 

2. Marathon Digital Holdings: 25,945 BTC

3. Galaxy Digital Holdings: 15,449 BTC

4. Tesla, Inc.: 11,509 BTC

5. Coinbase Global, Inc.: 9,183 BTC

• MicroStrategy

As of the year 2024, MicroStrategy holds 226,500 BTC, valued at $14.4 billion. In Q2 2024 alone, the company acquired 12,222 BTC for $805 million. The company views Bitcoin’s yield as a key metric for assessing the effectiveness of its digital gold acquisition strategy, benefiting shareholders.

• Marathon Digital Holdings

As of September 12, 2024, Marathon Digital Holdings possessed 25,945 BTC. Originally founded as a patent aggregator in 2010 (known then as Marathon Patent Group), the company pivoted in 2020 to become a prominent Bitcoin mining firm. Following a conservative asset accumulation strategy, Marathon periodically buys Bitcoin on the open market, reaching a record 1,853 BTC mined in December 2023. In 2023, the company reported mining a total of 12,852 BTC.

• Galaxy Digital Holdings

Galaxy Digital combines Bitcoin mining, trading, Web3 development, and banking services, making it one of the top BTC holders. Galaxy currently holds 15,449 BTC (valued at over $1 billion), accounting for roughly 0.075% of all BTC in circulation. The company’s shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

• Tesla

Elon Musk, a vocal supporter of cryptocurrency, ensured Tesla joined the Bitcoin ownership ranks. Tesla currently holds 11,509 BTC (valued at over $786.8 million), representing 0.055% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply. Recently, on October 16, Tesla moved its BTC holdings to new addresses for the first time in two years, sparking rumors of a potential sale or restructuring, as reported by Arkham Research. The purpose of this transaction and the ownership of the new addresses remain unconfirmed.

• Coinbase

Rounding out the top five, Coinbase Global holds 9,183 BTC, valued at over $627 million, representing 0.044% of Bitcoin’s total supply. Notably, in September of last year, Coinbase held close to 1 million BTC, accounting for nearly 5% of all Bitcoin in circulation at the time.

Conclusion

Belief in the long-term potential of cryptocurrencies, and Bitcoin in particular, is prompting leading companies to rethink their investment portfolios and build BTC reserves. Despite its volatility, Bitcoin is increasingly seen as a long-term investment asset. It’s also noteworthy that some companies are beginning to accumulate Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation. Whether this strategy proves effective remains to be seen in the near future.

SimpleSwap reminds you that this article is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide investment advice. All purchases and cryptocurrency investments are your own responsibility.