Bitcoin ownership in 2026 shows a clear hierarchy, according to on-chain data compiled by Arkham. The top holders span individuals, exchanges, ETF issuers, governments, and public companies. The figures reflect holdings as Bitcoin traded near $126,000 in October 2025, pushing market cap to $2.48 trillion.
Satoshi Nakamoto: 1.09M BTC — 5.5% of Supply Untouched
Satoshi Nakamoto remains the single largest Bitcoin holder. Arkham attributes 1,096,358 BTC to addresses linked to early mining activity. These coins have remained largely dormant, valued at roughly $75 billion based on current pricing. That stake accounts for about 5.5% of the total circulating supply. Arkham identifies these as the only known addresses from which Satoshi ever spent Bitcoin.
Exchanges: Coinbase Nears 1M BTC, Binance Holds 661K
Exchanges collectively control the next biggest share. Coinbase leads with 993,069 BTC identified on-chain, representing about 5% of all Bitcoin, covering customer deposits and operational reserves. Binance follows with approximately 661,000 BTC, mostly held in cold wallets. Robinhood and Upbit each hold over 180,000 BTC, primarily custodial client funds rather than proprietary holdings.
ETF Issuers: BlackRock Dominates with 761K BTC
Spot Bitcoin ETF issuers have amassed significant piles. BlackRock controls 761,801 BTC through its spot ETF. Fidelity and Grayscale are also top ETF-related holders; Grayscale holds 218,000 BTC under Coinbase custody.
Governments: U.S. Holds 328K BTC From Seizures
Governments have emerged as a major holder category. The U.S. government holds 328,372 BTC, mainly from seizures tied to Silk Road and the Bitfinex hack. The U.K. holds about 61,000 BTC seized in criminal investigations.
Corporate Holdings: Strategy Leads with 415K BTC, Tether Nears 100K
Among public companies, Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) tops the list with confirmed on-chain holdings of 415,230 BTC, though total Bitcoin under its control reaches 714,644 BTC through custodial arrangements. Private firm Tether holds 96,369 BTC. These entities illustrate the diverse ownership structure of Bitcoin in 2026, spanning early miners, financial institutions, exchanges, corporations, and sovereign states, all based on verified on-chain and publicly disclosed data.