Bitcoin ETFs Poised to Overtake Satoshi Nakamoto as Top Holder by 2025
BlackRock’s IBIT Bitcoin ETF has quickly become the third-largest Bitcoin holder globally, trailing only behind Bitcoin's enigmatic creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
The combined U.S. ETF holdings exceed 900,000 BTC , while Nakamoto’s alleged stash is around 1.1 million BTC, though this is disputed.
Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas forecasts that Bitcoin ETFs could surpass Nakamoto’s holdings by 2025. Currently, BlackRock’s IBIT holds 347,767 BTC, and Fidelity’s FBTC has 176,626 BTC. Grayscale is another major player with 263,801 BTC.
Didn’t realize US ETFs are on track to pass Satoshi in bitcoin held in October. BlackRock alone is already #3 and on pace to be #1 late next year, and will likely stay there for a very long time Ht @EdmondsonShaun pic.twitter.com/QGsO00zrxp
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) August 12, 2024
Binance ranks second with over 550,000 BTC, despite regulatory challenges.
READ MORE:
Grayscale’s Ethereum ETF Outflows Declined – How Did Bitcoin ETFs Fare?The actual BTC holdings of Satoshi Nakamoto remain debated, with some estimates suggesting less than 700,000 BTC.
BlackRock, the largest asset manager globally, continues to deepen its crypto engagement. Its iShares Bitcoin ETF manages about $21 billion, and its recent partnership with Circle to invest in USDC highlights its growing role in the sector.
BlackRock might soon launch its own blockchain to streamline asset management, potentially enhancing its influence in the cryptocurrency market.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Wintermute’s Aggressive Liquidations Trigger Panic: 5 Cryptos Worth Risking Before Buyers Return to the Market

Once the Federal Reserve starts the rate hike cycle, is "three consecutive hikes" a reasonable expectation?
BMO expects consecutive rate hikes in October and December, with a total of three increases potentially wiping out all rate cut gains for 2025. Vanguard believes "three consecutive hikes" is a reasonable starting point, but the actual number could be as high as six. There are historical exceptions: in 1997, the Federal Reserve raised rates only once and took no further action for the following 18 months. Meanwhile, trillion-dollar debt financing by AI giants, private credit exposure in the insurance industry, and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield approaching 5% are the most dangerous pressure points in this rate hike cycle.
Goldman Sachs Also Changes Its Tune: The Fed Will Raise Interest Rates Next Week!
Goldman Sachs has shifted from predicting a rate hold to betting on a 25 basis point hike next week, stating that this change is not due to particularly bad inflation data—the August CPI was not perfect, but it wasn’t alarming either. The real key is that hawkish comments from Waller have already shaped market expectations: "If the inflation data isn’t perfect, there will be a rate hike." If the Federal Reserve backs down now, its credibility will suffer a serious blow and long-term interest rates could react sharply and immediately.
