How Many People Own Bitcoin in 2025? Latest Statistics, Insights, and Ownership Breakdown

Key Takeaways

  • About 480–500 million people now own Bitcoin globally.
  • Fewer than 1 million wallets hold 1 BTC or more.
  • Around 150,000 wallets hold 10 BTC or more.
  • Owning 0.1 BTC already puts you in the top 10% of Bitcoin holders.
  • Global ownership continues to rise thanks to ETFs, fintech apps, and non-custodial wallets.

How Many People Own Bitcoin Today (2025)?

As of 2025, an estimated 480 to 500 million people worldwide own Bitcoin in some form. However, less than 1 million wallets hold at least 1 full BTC, showing how scarce it has become to own one whole Bitcoin.

According to reports from Glassnode, Chainalysis, and Crypto.com’s 2025 Market Report, nearly half a billion people now hold some amount of Bitcoin.

This growth is driven by:

  • The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs and institutional products.
  • Widespread integration into financial apps and payment systems.
  • The increasing use of non-custodial wallets for direct ownership.

However, blockchain data can’t perfectly reflect the number of people.

A single individual might control several wallets, and many wallets belong to exchanges holding Bitcoin for millions of users.

Bitcoin Ownership Growth Over Time

Bitcoin ownership has multiplied every few years as accessibility improves.

Bitcoin Ownership Growth (2015–2025)
Year Estimated Bitcoin Owners Growth
2015 ~5 million
2018 ~30 million +500%
2020 ~100 million +233%
2023 ~420 million +320%
2025 ~480–500 million +19%

How Many People Own 1 Bitcoin or More?

Owning one full Bitcoin has become an exceptional milestone.

In 2025, approximately 950,000 wallet addresses hold 1 BTC or more, less than 0.2% of all Bitcoin addresses.

Since many belong to custodians and institutions, the number of individuals who actually own 1 BTC is probably well under one million.

Owning a single Bitcoin places you among the top 0.1% of all Bitcoin holders, as rare as owning a high-end property in the digital economy.

Why So Few People Own 1 Bitcoin

The scarcity of full Bitcoin ownership is the result of several converging factors:

  • Only 21 million BTC will ever exist.
  • Around 19.7 million BTC have already been mined.
  • Between 3 and 4 million BTC are believed to be lost forever (lost keys, early wallets).
  • Institutions and ETFs hold more than 1.5 million BTC collectively.

In short, supply is fixed while global demand keeps rising, making each fraction of a Bitcoin more valuable over time.

How Many People Own 10 or More Bitcoins?

Very few users hold large Bitcoin balances:

  • About 150,000 wallets hold 10 BTC or more.
  • Around 13,000 wallets contain over 100 BTC.
  • Fewer than 2,000 wallets are “whales” with 1,000+ BTC.

Most of these addresses represent institutional holdings or custodial wallets managing funds for thousands of users.

How Many People Own 0.1 Bitcoin or Less?

Even small Bitcoin holders represent a growing global movement toward decentralization.

Owning 0.1 BTC (roughly $6,000 in 2025) already places you ahead of 90% of all Bitcoin users.

  • More than 30 million wallets hold 0.01–0.1 BTC.
  • Over 200 million wallets contain 0.01 BTC or more.

With Bitcoin’s capped supply, even small ownership is statistically significant for future scarcity.

Bitcoin Ownership Distribution (2025)

                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Holdings (BTC)Approx. WalletsShare of Total WalletsEquivalent (USD, 2025)
≥ 10 BTC150,0000.03%$600,000+
≥ 1 BTC950,0000.2%$60,000+
≥ 0.1 BTC30,000,000+6%$6,000+
≥ 0.01 BTC200,000,000+40%$600+
Total Users480–500 million100%

Who Owns the Most Bitcoin?

Bitcoin ownership remains heavily concentrated:

  • Satoshi Nakamoto reportedly holds about 1.1 million BTC.
  • ETFs and corporations like BlackRock, MicroStrategy, and Fidelity hold ~1.5 million BTC combined.
  • Exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase manage millions more on behalf of users.

In total, over 60% of all Bitcoin supply is controlled by long-term investors, institutions, or custodial platforms.

Where Bitcoin Ownership Is Growing Fastest

Regional data shows ownership expanding most rapidly in:

  • Latin America, led by Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.
  • Africa, particularly Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
  • Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

These regions use Bitcoin for remittances, savings, and inflation protection.

Meanwhile, Europe and North America remain leaders in institutional and ETF adoption.

Ownership vs. Adoption

It’s important to distinguish between Bitcoin holders and active adopters.

Blockchain data counts wallet addresses, not people. Many users store Bitcoin on custodial exchanges, meaning the number of real holders is likely higher than blockchain analytics suggest.

Still, the growth trend is undeniable: Bitcoin continues to spread across demographics, economies, and geographies.

How Bitcoin Ownership Is Changing

The next phase of Bitcoin adoption is about true ownership, not speculation.

Users are moving away from centralized exchanges toward self-custody wallets.

Modern solutions such as MPC wallets and non-custodial apps make Bitcoin safer and easier to manage.

These tools remove seed phrases, reduce single points of failure, and keep control in your hands, aligning with the Bitcoin ethos:

“Not your keys, not your coins.”

If you want a simple, non-custodial experience, Bleap combines an on-chain account with a free Mastercard and MPC wallet security.

FAQ

How many people own Bitcoin in 2025?

Between 480 and 500 million worldwide.

How many people own at least 1 BTC?

Around 950,000 wallets, but fewer than 1 million real individuals.

How many people own 10 BTC or more?

Roughly 150,000 wallets.

How many people own 0.1 BTC?

Over 30 million wallets, placing them in the top 10% of holders.

What percentage of the world owns Bitcoin?

About 6% of the global population.

What’s the safest way to hold Bitcoin?

Use a non-custodial or MPC wallet like Bleap, where you control your keys and security.

Conclusion

Bitcoin ownership keeps rising, but real scarcity remains.

With less than 1 million people holding a full BTC, owning even a fraction positions you early in the world’s most limited digital asset.

For safe, transparent Bitcoin ownership, choose a non-custodial solution that gives you control, security, and utility.

Start your Bitcoin journey safely with Bleap, your on-chain account with full control

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