The creator of Bitcoin, the enigmatic Satoshi Nakamoto, is estimated to be sitting on a massive fortune exceeding $100 billion! This is based on the current price of Bitcoin, which recently climbed back above $94,000.
A Hidden Fortune
According to data analysis, Nakamoto holds around 1.1 million Bitcoins. If this were publicly known, it would place them among the top 16 richest people in the world, surpassing big names like Changpeng Zhao (Binance) and Michael Dell. At Bitcoin’s all-time high, this stash was worth a staggering $120 billion.
A Dormant Giant
What’s truly remarkable is how little of this Bitcoin has been spent. Out of the estimated 1.1 million Bitcoins, only about 907 have ever been moved! Nakamoto’s mining activity seemingly ended around May 2010, marked by the cessation of a unique mining pattern known as the “Patoshi pattern.” This pattern helped researchers track Nakamoto’s early mining across over 22,000 blocks.
Bitcoin’s Price Rebound
Bitcoin’s recent price surge to $94,400 (after a dip to $74,400 earlier this month) represents a 25% increase and a monthly high. This recovery is good news for long-term holders.
Catching Up
While Satoshi’s Bitcoin holdings remain the largest single stash, institutional investors are rapidly closing the gap. Bitcoin ETFs now collectively hold nearly as much Bitcoin as Satoshi, with a total value of around $104 billion. BlackRock leads the pack with $50 billion worth of Bitcoin, followed by Grayscale with $17 billion, and Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) holding almost $50 billion worth of Bitcoin (538,200 BTC).
The Big Mystery
The whereabouts and identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remain a huge mystery. Some analyses suggest Nakamoto may have mined as many as 1,125,150 BTC before disappearing. The possibility of these coins ever being moved is a major enigma in the crypto world. Any activity from these “sleeping wallets” would likely send shockwaves through the Bitcoin market and potentially reveal clues about Satoshi’s identity.