Bitcoin Surge Boosts Satoshi Nakamoto's Wealth to $132 Billion

Bitcoin has recently surged past the $120,000 price level, marking a significant milestone in its market trajectory. This surge has had a profound impact on the wealth of its anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, who is now estimated to hold approximately 1.096 million BTC. With the current value of Bitcoin, Nakamoto's holdings are now worth over $132 billion, placing him at the 11th position on the Forbes billionaires list.

According to blockchain analytics firm Arkham, Nakamoto's Bitcoin is spread across thousands of wallets, many of which have remained untouched since he disappeared from public view in 2011. The collective value of these wallets is now over $132.8 billion, far exceeding the holdings of major corporate entities and other high-profile crypto investors. For instance, corporations and custodians collectively control around 847,000 BTC, which is equivalent to just 4% of the total Bitcoin supply. The Winklevoss twins, known for founding the Gemini exchange, hold around 70,000 BTC, while venture capitalist Tim Draper owns approximately 30,000 BTC. MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor is believed to possess close to 18,000 BTC in personal holdings. Despite these impressive numbers, none come even close to Nakamoto’s stash.

Despite Nakamoto's substantial wealth, he is not currently included in Forbes' list of top billionaires. This is because Forbes only considers publicly verifiable assets like stocks, real estate, and company ownership when calculating net worth. Crypto wallets, especially those controlled by anonymous individuals, fall outside their criteria. However, if Forbes were to consider crypto holdings, Nakamoto would already have overtaken Michael Dell, the CEO of Dell Technologies, whose net worth stands at $125.1 billion, placing Nakamoto just shy of breaking into the top 10.

To become the richest person in the world, Nakamoto would need Bitcoin to rise further. Elon Musk, who is currently the world’s richest man, has a net worth of about $404 billion. For Nakamoto’s Bitcoin holdings to match that, the asset would need to surge approximately 208% and hit around $370,000 per BTC. This is a steep climb, but not entirely out of reach according to some analysts. For example, if Bitcoin maintains its historic average growth of 50% annually, Nakamoto could become the second-richest person by 2026. Other analysts from major asset management firms have also issued predictions between $200,000 and $250,000 before the end of 2025. If even the most conservative of these predictions come true, Nakamoto’s ranking on the billionaires list is likely to balloon upwards very quickly.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Satoshi Nakamoto’s story is his refusal to profit from his invention. Despite holding a fortune worth over $130 billion, none of Nakamoto’s wallets have shown signs of activity for over a decade. Whether or not Nakamoto ever claims the top spot on the billionaire list, his influence over the financial world is already cemented. And as Bitcoin edges toward $200K, $250K or perhaps even $370K, the name Satoshi Nakamoto will continue to endure.