This week, the balance of US spot Bitcoin ETFs reached 1,105,923 BTC.
This means that ETFs now hold more Bitcoin than the anonymous creator of the first cryptocurrency, Satoshi Nakamoto.
New milestone for Bitcoin ETF
BlackRock’s IBIT ETF ranks first in terms of BTC holdings, holding 521,164 coins. Second and third places are occupied by GBTC from Grayscale and FBTC from Fidelity. At the time of writing, the volume of funds under management of US Bitcoin ETFs is more than $109 billion.
Weekly inflow of funds into Bitcoin ETFs from August to December. Source: SoSoValue
It is believed that Satoshi Nakamoto mined approximately 22,000 of the first blocks of Bitcoin, receiving 50 BTC per block. Thus, the anonymous creator of the cryptocurrency has accumulated about 1.1 million BTC, which have remained untouched since their creation.
While Satoshi remains the largest individual holder of Bitcoin, several institutions also hold significant amounts of BTC. MicroStrategy leads corporate holders with 402,100 bitcoins worth more than $40 billion.
The company, which chose Bitcoin as its primary treasury asset in 2020, purchased more than $13 billion of BTC in November. Other public companies such as MARA and Worksport are also accumulating cryptocurrency. The US owns 208,109 BTC worth $21 billion, making it the largest Bitcoin holder among nations.
Public companies that hold the most Bitcoins. Source: Bitcoin Treasuries
Continued speculation about Satoshi’s identity
Meanwhile, speculation about the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto shows no sign of abating. Earlier this year, Australian scientist Craig Wright faced legal trouble over his claims to be the creator of Bitcoin.
A separate scandal broke out after the release of the HBO documentary Money Electricin which Satoshi Nakamoto named Canadian cryptographer Peter Todd. Todd denied the claims and reportedly went into hiding due to unwanted attention and threats.
At an October press conference in London, a man named Stephen Mollach also tried to take credit for Nakamoto’s achievements, but was unable to provide convincing evidence.
Despite constantly emerging theories and public interest, the true identity of Bitcoin’s creator still remains a mystery.
Stay informed! Subscribe to World Stock Market in Telegram.
Source: Cryptocurrency
I am an experienced journalist and writer with a career in the news industry. My focus is on covering Top News stories for World Stock Market, where I provide comprehensive analysis and commentary on markets around the world. I have expertise in writing both long-form articles and shorter pieces that deliver timely, relevant updates to readers.
