US spot Bitcoin ETFs have reached a historic milestone, holding more Bitcoin than Satoshi Nakamoto’s estimated 1.1 million BTC stash. This achievement reflects the growing adoption of Bitcoin as a mainstream financial asset, with ETFs collectively managing 1,105,923 BTC.
A New Milestone for Bitcoin ETFs
The rise of Bitcoin ETFs has been staggering. Since launching earlier this year, the 12 spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US have drawn over $33 billion in net inflows. This week alone, the funds saw an influx of $2.35 billion, pushing total assets under management (AUM) beyond $109 billion.
Leading the ETF pack are BlackRock’s IBIT ETFs, followed by Grayscale’s GBTC and Fidelity’s FBTC. The success of these funds highlights the institutional embrace of Bitcoin as a long-term investment.
Satoshi Nakamoto: Bitcoin’s Mysterious Creator
Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, mined approximately 1.1 million BTC in the cryptocurrency’s early days. These coins, earned by mining Bitcoin’s first 22,000 blocks, have never been moved or spent.
While Satoshi remains the largest individual Bitcoin holder, other entities also have substantial Bitcoin reserves. MicroStrategy leads corporate holdings with 402,100 BTC, worth over $40 billion. The US government holds 208,109 BTC, worth $21 billion, mainly from seized funds.
Speculation Over Satoshi’s Identity Continues
Despite Bitcoin’s growing institutional adoption, its creator’s identity remains a mystery. In 2024, Australian scientist Craig Wright once again claimed to be Satoshi, but a UK court dismissed his evidence.
A separate controversy emerged after the HBO documentary Money Electric suggested Canadian cryptographer Peter Todd as Satoshi. Todd denied the claims and reportedly went into hiding due to threats.
Adding to the spectacle, an October press conference featured a man named Stephen Mollah declaring himself as Nakamoto. However, his failure to provide credible evidence cast doubts on the claim.
Despite ongoing speculation, the true identity of Bitcoin’s creator remains unknown, adding intrigue to the cryptocurrency’s legacy.
