U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs surpass Satoshi Nakamoto holdings
Spot Bitcoin ETFs
In less than a year since their debut, United States spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have achieved a historic milestone, collectively holding more Bitcoin than the anonymous creator of the digital currency, Satoshi Nakamoto.
As of Dec. 5, US spot Bitcoin ETFs held 1,103,965 BTC, surpassing the 1.1 million BTC Nakamoto is estimated to have mined in Bitcoin’s early days.
Spot ETFs: A Revolutionary Shift in Bitcoin Ownership
This milestone, highlighted by Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, underscores the rapid institutional adoption of Bitcoin. “The US spot ETFs now hold more than anyone in the world, and they’re not even a year old yet. Mind-blowing,” Balchunas wrote on X.
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Satoshi Nakamoto, who initiated the Bitcoin network in 2009, remains an enigma. His estimated holdings represent 5.2% of the total 21 million BTC supply.
Despite years of speculation about his identity, many, including Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz, believe Nakamoto is no longer alive. “If Satoshi was alive — cause I don’t think he is — I’m sure he’d have a big smile on his face,” Novogratz said, referencing Bitcoin’s new highs above $100,000 this week.
The ETF achievement also dwarfs holdings by major players like Binance and MicroStrategy, with ETFs exceeding their reserves by 42% and 63%, respectively. This shift highlights the growing appeal of regulated, institutional Bitcoin investments.
While Nakamoto’s holdings have long symbolized Bitcoin’s origin story, this development signals a new chapter. Spot ETFs have brought Bitcoin into the mainstream, creating a bridge between its decentralized roots and institutional finance.As ETFs mature, their role in Bitcoin’s ecosystem could reshape the balance of power, raising important questions about ownership and influence in the next phase of Bitcoin’s journey.
Despite the widespread adoption and institutional interest in Bitcoin, the enigma of Nakamoto’s identity remains a central piece of the Bitcoin narrative. Nakamoto’s estimated holdings have never been moved, further fueling speculation about the creator’s fate.
