Bitcoin ownership remains dominated by individuals, but the landscape changes rapidly. Recent data highlights how personal wallets and exchange accounts categorized as individual holdings comprise most of the current bitcoin supply.
Industry research released in August 2025 carefully breaks down bitcoin ownership. The analysis compares data from public blockchain sources, filings, and address tags to categorize the supply by holder type. The results show individuals are by far the largest group, while other sectors slowly increase their share.
According to the latest study, self-custodied wallets and exchange accounts linked to private owners now control about 65.9 percent of all bitcoin in circulation. This represents almost 13.83 million coins. Researchers came to these figures by sifting through the blockchain and drawing on earlier investigative methods to differentiate wallet owners.
Although individuals are still the main holders, businesses and investment funds have shown notable growth.
At present, corporate treasuries and companies that report their bitcoin reserves account for around 6.2 percent of supply. That is the equivalent of about 1.3 million coins. This segment includes global firms that now use bitcoin as a strategic asset on their balance sheet.
Meanwhile, investment products such as ETFs and managed funds own about 7.8 percent of the supply, or close to 1.63 million bitcoin.
The rising market interest for these vehicles highlights a trend where more investors prefer trusting professionals to hold their digital assets.
Governments still play a small but visible role in the total distribution. Around 1.5 percent of all bitcoin, or roughly 306,000 coins, are tracked to addresses believed to be government owned. This portion is often tied to law enforcement seizures or other public records.
Not all bitcoins in existence remain accessible. A significant slice, 7.6 percent or about 1.58 million coins, is classified as likely lost.
Many of these coins have sat untouched for years, pointing toward forgotten private keys or misplaced wallets.
Early miners, including the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto and those linked to some of the first mining pools, are estimated to own about 4.6 percent of the current supply. The number, nearly 968,000 coins, is inferred from past research into dormant coins and mining patterns dating back to bitcoin’s beginning.
A smaller but important fraction of bitcoin has not yet entered circulation. Presently, around 1.09 million coins, or 5.2 percent of the total supply, are still unmined.
This untouched portion will gradually be released to miners over time until bitcoin’s hard limit of 21 million coins is reached. As each new block is found, a little more value enters the ecosystem.
Overall, these figures paint a broad portrait of bitcoin’s current ownership landscape.
Financial institutions are steadily increasing their share thanks to the popularity of regulated investment products like spot ETFs and large companies openly investing.
Analysts suggest that if trends continue, institutions may control an even larger segment in the coming years. This shift signals growing confidence and mainstream integration, contrasting with the early years when nearly all bitcoin was individually held.
However, tracking ultimate ownership remains a complex process. Most custodial accounts stand in for thousands of underlying clients. The public blockchain offers transparency, but the categorization of some addresses will always involve educated estimates.
Despite these challenges, research consensus shows personal investors still call the shots.
The continuous expansion of institutional holdings offers both stability and increased interest from governments and major businesses. Many see this as a milestone for bitcoin’s transition from niche asset to mainstream financial tool.
Small and large investors alike are seeking new ways to participate in the ecosystem as it evolves. Some may research how to Start Cloud Mining as a means to directly accumulate bitcoin rather than simply holding or trading on an exchange.
As governments and companies grow their presence, the next few years will likely see even further diversification in how and where bitcoin is held. This dynamic landscape remains a key area to watch.
Conclusion
Bitcoin remains primarily in the hands of individual owners for now, even as institutional investors and governments increase their stakes. The steady growth in company and fund-owned coins marks a new phase in the digital asset’s developing journey.
Everyone from corporations to small investors continues to contribute to bitcoin’s global presence. With growing interest from all sectors, the ways people acquire and store bitcoin are more varied than ever. The division of ownership is set to evolve alongside new technology and shifting market trends, shaping the future of digital currency.
Ewan’s fascination with cryptocurrency started through his curiosity about innovative technologies reshaping the financial world. Over the past four years, he has specialized in cloud mining and crypto asset management, diving deep into mining contracts, profitability analysis, and emerging trends. Ewan is dedicated to helping readers understand the technical and economic aspects of crypto mining, making complex information accessible and actionable.
