Bitcoin ETFs have achieved remarkable success since the beginning of the year. Celebrating their first anniversary in January, these funds have reached a significant milestone by surpassing the holdings of Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin (BTC) $94,435.
ETFs and BTC Reserves
Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas announced via X platform that the total amount of BTC held by Bitcoin ETFs has exceeded Satoshi Nakamoto’s asset level. These ETFs have accumulated over 1.1 million BTC, while Nakamoto possesses the same amount.
SoSoValue data indicates that BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF is the most successful among these funds. IBIT, with assets under management amounting to $51.46 billion, accounts for almost half of the total net assets. Balchunas noted that BlackRock’s IBIT exceeded the $50 billion threshold in just 227 days, which is five times faster than the previous record.
Other Major BTC Holders
In addition to Bitcoin ETFs and Satoshi Nakamoto, Balchunas listed Binance, MicroStrategy, and the U.S. government among the largest BTC holders. Recently, MicroStrategy increased its total amount by acquiring an additional 15,400 BTC. Other major BTC wallet owners include the Chinese government, Bitfinex, Kraken, Block One, and Robinhood. The U.S. government’s commitment to establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve could alter future rankings.
Eric Balchunas highlighted the remarkable demand for ETFs, which have not yet been around for even a year. BlackRock’s Ethereum $3,271 ETF is also maintaining its success, with the iShares Ether ETF (ETHA) surpassing $1 billion in inflows. This indicates that the overall performance of ETFs reflects continued interest in the cryptocurrency market.
The rapid growth of Bitcoin ETFs and the interest from major players underscore the strong support for the cryptocurrency market from institutional investors. The swift expansion of Bitcoin ETFs illustrates their important role as a tool for portfolio diversification in commodities and digital assets. These funds provide investors access to cryptocurrencies without directly investing in Bitcoin, and it is expected that more institutional investors will show interest in Bitcoin ETFs in the future.