Bitcoin Surge Propels Satoshi Nakamoto to 11th Richest Globally

On July 13, 2025, Bitcoin's price surged to $122,000, propelling its mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, to the 11th position on the global billionaire list. Nakamoto's fortune is now estimated at $133 billion, attributed to the 1.096 million BTC believed to be in his possession, spread across thousands of dormant wallets.

This significant rise in wealth places Nakamoto ahead of prominent billionaires such as Michael Dell and Bill Gates, underscoring both the power of Bitcoin and the enduring intrigue surrounding its anonymous founder. However, Nakamoto is not officially recognized by Forbes due to the unverifiable nature of his crypto holdings, which are not tied to publicly verifiable assets.

Bitcoin's historical growth rate of 50% per year suggests that if this trend continues, Nakamoto could potentially rise to the second-richest spot by 2026, according to an analyst's forecast. This would place him behind only Elon Musk, whose net worth is currently estimated at $342 billion. To surpass Musk, Bitcoin would need to reach approximately $374,000 per coin, a jump of over 200%. While some analysts expect BTC to reach $200,000 by 2026, Musk is likely to remain at the top unless the crypto market experiences a significant rally.

Nakamoto's stash of Bitcoin remains unmatched compared to other major holders. Corporations and custodians hold about 847,000 BTC combined, while the Winklevoss twins possess 70,000 BTC, Tim Draper owns 30,000 BTC from a government auction in 2014, and Michael Saylor reportedly holds just under 18,000 BTC personally. What makes Nakamoto's fortune even more remarkable is that he has never touched it. Not a single Bitcoin has been moved from his wallets since he disappeared in 2011. This discipline is compared to that of Jack Bogle, the investor who reshaped finance but never cashed in like others did.

Nakamoto’s wallets currently hold around $117 billion in Bitcoin. If these wallets ever became active, it would likely cause major waves across the global crypto market. Adding to the intrigue, someone recently sent $20,000 worth of Bitcoin to Nakamoto’s Genesis Block address — the wallet tied to Bitcoin’s very first block. This was the largest such transfer in four months and could have been either a mistaken withdrawal from an exchange or a deliberate tribute from a long-time Bitcoin supporter. Similar transactions have occurred in the past, with some donations reaching over a million dollars.

The question of Nakamoto’s identity remains unanswered. Recently, speculation resurfaced around Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey after users pointed to possible connections, though no solid proof has come forward. Earlier theories involving names like Hal Finney and Nick Szabo have been widely debated, while Craig Wright’s claims were dismissed in court. For now, the true identity remains one of crypto’s biggest mysteries.

Nakamoto’s growing fortune continues to reflect the strength of decentralized finance and Bitcoin’s impact on the world. As of now, he’s the 11th richest person globally, though that position could shift depending on market moves. Whether Nakamoto ever reveals himself or stays hidden forever, his presence looms large over the crypto world. And as Bitcoin climbs, so does the legacy of its silent creator.