Bitcoin is controlled by all Bitcoin users around the world. While developers are improving the software, they can't force a change in the Bitcoin protocol because all users are free to choose what software and version they use.
who controls Bitcoin? Bitcoin is controlled by all Bitcoin users around the world. Developers are improving the software but they can't force a change in the rules of the Bitcoin protocol because all users are free to choose what software they use.
The richest players (the whales) own the majority. About 1.86% of all Bitcoin addresses control 90% of the supply. Major exchanges, early adopters and institutional custodians dominate the ledger. Just four addresses holding between 100,000 and 1 million BTC collectively own 14% of all coins.
Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas says, “I've got about 70% in #Bitcoin-related exposure.” The prominent bitcoin advocate disclosed that the remaining 30% of his portfolio consists of gold and shares in his own companies. He stated, “I don't have a single bond, and I don't have any other stocks except my own.”
There's no company, government, or platform that controls Bitcoin — not even Bitstack! Bitstack helps you buy, sell, and store your Bitcoin, but the Bitcoin network itself runs independently without a boss or central authority.
In 2021, Musk publicly confirmed that he owned BTC, ETH, and DOGE. While there are other cryptocurrencies that use Musk's name and likeness, they are not associated with him in any way. Musk has been a vocal proponent of DOGE, praising the cryptocurrency for its humor and fast transaction speeds.
Since Bitcoin is an open-source, decentralised digital currency and blockchain technology, no one owns it. While Nakamoto played a central role in creating and releasing the initial Bitcoin software and white paper, they designed Bitcoin to be a decentralised and community-driven project from the outset.
Assuming he is an individual person, Nakamoto's bitcoin holdings make him one of the world's wealthiest people. His wallet, which has been untouched since 2010, holds an estimated 1.1 million bitcoins.
As of May 2025, the Trump family owns four cryptocurrency ventures. His eldest sons Eric and Donald Jr. founded a Bitcoin mining firm American Bitcoin, a merger with American Data Centers in 2025. Donald Trump's assets are held in trust and managed by his children while he serves as U.S. president.
Blockchain data shows that there are just under 1 million wallet addresses that hold one full bitcoin. Many large holders, such as cryptocurrency exchanges, hold their bitcoin across multiple wallets, which puts the estimate for individual owners of at least one bitcoin closer to 800,000.
Today, as Nakamoto's estimated $128.92 billion fortune continues to grow with Bitcoin's value, the public remains captivated not just by the wealth, but by the enduring mystique of the invisible genius who started it all. Whether Nakamoto is a lone genius, a team of developers, or a pseudonymous ghost lost in history.
If you've spent any time reading about Bitcoin, you've likely come across the name Satoshi Nakamoto. But who is Satoshi Nakamoto, really? The short answer is: no one knows. Despite launching the most revolutionary financial technology of the modern era, Nakamoto remains a complete mystery.
Despite its use for buying goods and services, there are still no uniform international laws that regulate Bitcoin. Many developed countries allow Bitcoin to be used, such as the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. In several countries, including China and Saudi Arabia, it is illegal to use Bitcoin.
Which Countries Own the Most Bitcoin in 2025. The United States holds approximately 207,189 BTC as of June 26, 2025. These holdings primarily come from law enforcement seizures, including high-profile cases like the Silk Road takedown and the Bitfinex hack. China holds an estimated 190,000 BTC as of Jan 4th, 2024.
Gates has been critical of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. According to him, cryptocurrencies provide no "valuable output", contribute nothing to society, and pose a danger especially for smaller investors who could not survive the potentially high losses. Gates also does not own any cryptocurrencies himself.
TEXAS – Tesla's decision to offload 75% of its bitcoin holdings in mid-2022 is now being viewed as a costly misstep. The electric vehicle maker owned by Elon Musk forfeited potential gains of several billion dollars after bitcoin surged over the past year.
“In terms of cryptocurrencies, generally, I can say with almost certainty that they will come to a bad ending,” Buffett told CNBC in 2018. “We don't own any, we're not short any, we'll never have a position in them.”
This is in line with his May 2020 tweet in which he said he “only own[ed] 0.25 Bitcoins” (Musk, 2020)—which, of course, no longer had to be valid at the time of the talk.
Most advisors recommend limiting your investment in bitcoin to 1% to 5% of your net worth, he says. The real question to ask yourself isn't if now is a good time to invest in bitcoin. Rather, your focus should be on whether it "has a long-term place in your portfolio, depending on your goals and risk tolerance."
As of this morning, the total value of Bitcoin is $1.737 trillion. The total value of Satoshi's stake is about 100 billion. None of it has ever been sold.
On the other hand, if Nakamoto turned out to be a well-respected person, Bitcoin might see a rise in value and adoption. People are often more likely to trust something when they admire the person behind it. This could lead to greater institutional interest in Bitcoin, further boosting its credibility.
Exclusive of an estimated 1.1 million Bitcoins taken to be in the hands of Bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto, it is possible that as many as 2.9 million Bitcoins are irretrievably lost or unavailable-14% of all existing Bitcoins.
