Bitcoin's surge past $120,000 boosts Nakamoto's wealth to $132.8 billion

Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin, has seen his wealth surge to an estimated $132.8 billion as the price of Bitcoin soared past $120,000. This staggering fortune places Nakamoto at the 11th position on the list of the world's wealthiest individuals, surpassing tech magnate Michael Dell, whose net worth is approximately $125.1 billion.

Nakamoto is believed to hold roughly 1.096 million BTC spread across thousands of wallets. This significant holding, valued at over $132.8 billion at current prices, underscores the immense potential of Bitcoin and its impact on the global financial landscape. The rise in Nakamoto's wealth is a testament to the growing acceptance and value of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, in the modern economy.

Analysts predict that Nakamoto's ascent could continue, potentially reaching the second-richest position by 2026 if Bitcoin maintains its historical growth rate of 50% annually. This projection highlights the potential for further appreciation in Bitcoin's value and the corresponding increase in Nakamoto's wealth. The founder's decision to never cash out his holdings is reminiscent of legendary investor Jack Bogle, who amassed a modest fortune despite revolutionizing the investment world.

Compared to other large Bitcoin holders, Nakamoto's stash is unmatched. Corporations and custodians collectively hold about 847,000 BTC, or roughly 4% of Bitcoin’s capped supply. Notable individual holders include the Winklevoss twins with around 70,000 BTC, venture capitalist Tim Draper with about 30,000 BTC purchased at a 2014 auction, and Michael Saylor, co-founder of Strategy, who reportedly holds close to 18,000 BTC privately. Despite these significant holdings, Nakamoto's 1.096 million BTC remains the largest individual stash of Bitcoin.

Forbes’ rankings, which exclude cryptocurrency holdings, focus instead on publicly verifiable assets like stocks. This exclusion means that Nakamoto's true wealth is not reflected in traditional rankings, which could change if cryptocurrency holdings were included. Despite Bitcoin’s historic climb, Nakamoto still trails behind the likes of Elon Musk, who leads the list with an estimated $404 billion fortune. For Nakamoto to claim the top spot, Bitcoin would need to jump approximately 208% to around $370,000, assuming the wealth of other billionaires remains unchanged.

Last month, an unknown wallet transferred $20,000 worth of Bitcoin to Nakamoto’s Genesis Block address, marking the largest movement to the Bitcoin creator’s wallet in four months. Analysts from Arkham Intelligence suggested that the transaction may have been either an accidental exchange withdrawal or a deliberate tribute from an early Bitcoin supporter honoring Nakamoto. The recent transfer follows a pattern of periodic large donations to Satoshi’s wallets, often linked to exchange withdrawals. Historical data shows transfers ranging from thousands to over a million dollars over the years.

The dormant wallets now hold approximately $117 billion in Bitcoin, untouched since Nakamoto vanished in 2011. Any significant movement from these addresses would likely cause major market upheaval. Amid this activity, speculation over Satoshi’s true identity has intensified. Researchers have recently pointed to Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey as a potential candidate based on circumstantial evidence, while fraud claims by Craig Wright were dismissed in court.