Satoshi Nakamoto is Now the 11th Richest Person on Earth — Who Really Owns Bitcoin’s Fortune?

2025-07-16

Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, has quietly become one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet—without selling a single coin or revealing their identity.

As Bitcoin reaches new all-time highs in 2025, Nakamoto’s fortune has surpassed $129 billion, placing them among the richest people globally, just behind tech titans like Elon Musk and Larry Ellison.

This article compares the net worth of Satoshi Nakamoto to Bill Gates, explores who is the richest person in Bitcoin, and dives into Satoshi’s role, contributions, and the continuing mystery around the "CEO of Bitcoin."

Satoshi Nakamoto Becomes the 11th Richest Person in the World

In July 2025, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, officially became the 11th richest person on Earth, according to recent estimates by blockchain analytics firm Arkham.

This milestone was reached as Bitcoin’s price surged past $122,000, pushing Nakamoto’s 1.096 million BTC holdings to a total value of approximately $129 billion.

What makes this achievement so remarkable is the complete absence of any coin movement since Bitcoin's inception.

Unlike traditional billionaires who build companies, acquire assets, or diversify investments, Nakamoto has accumulated immense wealth without selling, transferring, or spending a single satoshi from the original mining days in 2009.

This newly elevated position on the global rich list places Nakamoto ahead of several industry magnates such as Michael Dell (Dell Technologies) and Rob Walton (Walmart heir), whose net worths are estimated at $124.8 billion and $121 billion, respectively.

Despite this massive theoretical fortune, Nakamoto has never been counted in traditional rankings like the Forbes Billionaires List. That's because most wealth lists do not consider cryptocurrency holdings unless they are tied to a known, verifiable individual or organization.

However, the crypto community and blockchain analytics firms widely acknowledge that the original 1.1 million BTC mined in 2009–2010 were controlled by Nakamoto alone.

Satoshi Nakamoto Net Worth vs Bill Gates

As Bitcoin continues its upward momentum, analysts suggest this ranking could rise even higher. Should BTC climb to around $370,000, Nakamoto would overtake Elon Musk and become the richest person in the world.

As of July 2025, Satoshi Nakamoto’s net worth is estimated at $129 billion, thanks to the approximately 1.096 million BTC mined in Bitcoin's earliest days.

These coins have remained untouched, suggesting Satoshi has not profited in a traditional sense but still ranks as the 11th richest person in the world.

By comparison, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has a net worth of around $121 billion, according to Forbes' real-time billionaire tracker.

Although Gates has steadily donated large portions of his wealth through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Satoshi's hypothetical wealth—based solely on Bitcoin’s price—has now exceeded that of Gates.

If Bitcoin’s price continues its upward trajectory, analysts predict that Nakamoto could surpass even Elon Musk, the current richest individual with over $404 billion, should Bitcoin rise to $370,000 per coin.

Who Is the Richest Person in Bitcoin?

When it comes to Bitcoin wealth, no one comes close to Satoshi Nakamoto. Here’s a breakdown of major Bitcoin holders:

Satoshi Nakamoto – 1.1 million BTC ($129 billion)
Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (Custodian) – ~640,000 BTC
Binance Cold Wallets – Over 500,000 BTC
Winklevoss Twins – ~70,000 BTC
Tim Draper – ~30,000 BTC
Michael Saylor (personal) – ~17,732 BTC

Despite the rise of institutional investors and Bitcoin whales, Satoshi Nakamoto remains the single largest individual holder of Bitcoin, and arguably, the richest person in crypto history.

Satoshi Nakamoto’s Role in Bitcoin

Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin whitepaper in October 2008 and mined the first Bitcoin block—known as the Genesis Block—on January 3, 2009. Embedded in that block was the message: “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks.”

This symbolic message reflected distrust in centralized banking systems, forming the ideological foundation of Bitcoin.

Satoshi was highly active on forums and email threads from 2008 until mid-2011, communicating with early developers like Hal Finney and Gavin Andresen.

However, after 2011, all communications ceased, and Satoshi vanished from the public eye. No Bitcoin from the early mined addresses has ever been moved since.

Who Is the CEO of Bitcoin?

There is no CEO of Bitcoin—a fact that underscores the decentralized nature of the cryptocurrency. Unlike traditional corporations, Bitcoin is an open-source protocol, governed by consensus among its users, developers, and miners.

However, early developers like Gavin Andresen briefly assumed lead roles after Satoshi’s departure. Still, no one has ever officially taken ownership or leadership over the Bitcoin protocol in a centralized way.

Where Is Satoshi’s Bitcoin Today?

Research by Sergio Demian Lerner in 2013 identified a distinct pattern in early mined Bitcoin blocks, attributing nearly 1.1 million BTC to a single entity—presumably Satoshi. These coins remain untouched and reside in various wallets spread across the blockchain.

The fact that these coins haven’t moved, even as Bitcoin surpassed $100,000, is one of the most intriguing elements of the Bitcoin story. Many believe that moving even a portion of these coins could shake the market and impact prices.

Could Satoshi Become the Richest Person on Earth?

The short answer: Yes. If Bitcoin reaches $114,000 per coin, Satoshi would become the richest person in the world, overtaking Musk and Bezos.

Some bullish forecasts, like those from BitMEX and Bloomberg ETF analysts, estimate Bitcoin could hit $250,000–$370,000 by 2026. If that happens, Satoshi could become the first trillionaire in history.

Symbolism and Legacy

Beyond wealth, Satoshi Nakamoto has become a symbol of digital freedom and financial decentralization. In 2021, a statue was unveiled in Budapest’s Graphisoft Park with a polished face that reflects the viewer—signifying that anyone could be Satoshi.

The anonymous identity has become a philosophical statement against central authority. Bitcoin’s invention not only disrupted traditional finance but also ushered in the age of blockchain technology and decentralized networks.

Conclusion

The mystery and wealth of Satoshi Nakamoto continue to captivate the world. Whether viewed as a symbol of freedom or a silent billionaire, Satoshi’s legacy is one that reshaped global finance forever. As Bitcoin continues to climb, the legend of its invisible creator only grows stronger.

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FAQ

What is Satoshi Nakamoto’s net worth?

As of July 2025, Satoshi Nakamoto’s net worth is approximately $129 billion, based on the value of around 1.096 million BTC that remains untouched since 2009.

Who is the richest person in Bitcoin?

Satoshi Nakamoto is the richest person in Bitcoin and in all of crypto. Their holdings dwarf those of other whales like Michael Saylor or the Winklevoss twins.

How rich would Satoshi Nakamoto be if Bitcoin hit $500,000?

If Bitcoin hit $500,000, Satoshi’s holdings would be worth over $548 billion, making them by far the richest person in the world, with no close second.

How much is 1 Satoshi worth today?

As of current Bitcoin prices (~$122,000 per BTC), 1 Satoshi (0.00000001 BTC) is worth approximately $0.00122 USD.

Who is the CEO of Bitcoin?

Bitcoin has no CEO. It is a decentralized protocol with no central leadership. Developers contribute voluntarily, and the network is governed by consensus.

Satoshi-Nakamoto

Disclaimer: The content of this article does not constitute financial or investment advice.

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