Bitcoin ( BTC ) has recorded a historic run in 2024 , culminating in the asset reaching the $100,000 milestone, driven by strong interest from both institutional and retail investors. As Bitcoin hits new highs, its ownership dynamics have shifted, largely due to regulatory changes, depicting a diverse range of stakeholders, from early miners to major companies and individuals. At the moment, Bitcoin boasts a market cap of $1.97 trillion, with 19.79 million BTC already in circulation—nearing the maximum supply of 21 million, pointing to the digital asset’s growing scarcity. Bitcoin top holders When examining Bitcoin holders, the top spot is held by the mysterious Patoshi entity, likely tied to the anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, with an untouched stash of 1.12 million BTC (5.68% of the total supply), according to data retrieved by Finbold from the Time Chain Index on December 8. Following closely are cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase , which holds 1.05 million BTC (5.34%), and Binance , which has 687,000 BTC (3.47%). Beyond custodians, institutions also hold a significant chunk of Bitcoin. The world’s largest investment management company, BlackRock (NYSE: BLK ), leads the pack, with 521,000 BTC (2.63%) held through its exchange-traded fund ( ETF ). MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR ) follows, boasting 402,000 BTC (2.03%) as part of its treasury holdings. Legacy miners, such as the Unspent Coinbase Rewards wallets, contribute over 436,000 BTC (2.21%). Other notable owners include the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), with 212,000 BTC (1.07%), Fidelity, with 201,000 BTC (1.02%), and the U.S. Government, which accounts for 199,000 BTC (1.01%), mostly acquired from criminal seizures, such as those linked to the Silk Road marketplace. Bitcoin top 20 holders as of December 8. Source: Time Chain Index Impact of changing Bitcoin ownership dynamic on BTC price Entities such as BlackRock and MicroStrategy have been instrumental in driving institutional interest in the maiden cryptocurrency. This interest and optimism, stemming from Donald Trump’s re-election and the anticipated rollout of crypto-friendly policies, propelled Bitcoin to its current six-figure valuation. Once Trump officially resumes office, the market will focus on potential changes to the U.S. government’s Bitcoin holdings. Trump has vowed to spearhead the inclusion of Bitcoin as part of the strategic reserve. This potential shift could involve a commitment to retaining, rather than selling, the Bitcoin currently held by government authorities. Looking ahead, analysts believe institutional investors are likely to help sustain Bitcoin’s upward trajectory. In this regard, Finbold reported that Standard Chartered forecasts Bitcoin hitting $200,000 by 2025, driven by institutional demand. Bitcoin price analysis As of press time, Bitcoin was battling resistance at the $100,000 level, trading at $99,009—a 0.7% decline in the last 24 hours. However, in the weekly timeframe, BTC is up 4.7%. Bitcoin seven-day price chart. Source: Finbold Regarding its next price movement, prominent cryptocurrency analyst Michaël van de Poppe offered a mixed outlook in a December 7 X post . On the bullish side, Poppe noted that Bitcoin’s uptrend remains intact. If it successfully breaks through the $102,000 resistance, the next target is a new high of $110,000. However, investors need to be cautious, as losing the current uptrend could trigger a major Bitcoin price correction. As per the analyst, such a correction has the potential to impact the broader crypto market and trigger an altcoin rally. In conclusion, Bitcoin’s outlook remains bullish, particularly with the asset trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages ( SMA ). However, attention should remain on its interaction with the long-term support level at $95,000. A drop below this spot could spell trouble for the digital asset. Featured image via Shutterstock The post These are Bitcoin’s top holders as of December 2024 appeared first on Finbold .
