Bitcoin has surpassed the threshold of 120,000 dollars, propelling its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, to become the eleventh richest billionaire in the world. This rise, based on the wealth tied to Bitcoin, marks a turning point in global financial markets.
A wealth that rewrites the ranking: the position of Satoshi Nakamoto
The recent rally of Bitcoin not only set a new all-time high but also redefined the dynamics of global wealth. According to analyses conducted by blockchain-specialized companies, Nakamoto holds a fortune of about 1.096 million Bitcoin, today valued at over 131 billion dollars. A figure that, in theoretical terms, would place him above Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, whose fortune is estimated at 125.1 billion dollars.
Despite this result, the official Forbes ranking does not include cryptocurrency wallets among its sources of wealth. Forbes’ methodology favors public holdings and traditional investments, leaving out components like Nakamoto’s Bitcoin reserves. Nevertheless, the reputation of the creator of Bitcoin as the main private holder of the currency remains unmatched.
SATOSHI NAKAMOTO IS NOW THE 11TH RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD
The value of Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin holdings increased by $7.4 Billion today, now worth $128.9B.
He has just overtaken Michael Dell, Chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies ($125.3B). pic.twitter.com/mzkcI2NIrr
— Arkham (@arkham) July 11, 2025
The distribution of Bitcoin wealth: who holds the largest amounts?
Satoshi Nakamoto is confirmed as the individual with the highest share of Bitcoin, followed at a great distance by other key figures in the cryptocurrency landscape. His ownership of 1,096,000 units is distributed among thousands of digital wallets. At the same time, a smaller portion—about 847,000 Bitcoin—is held by companies and institutional custodians, representing about 4% of the total supply.
- The Winklevoss twins, founders of Gemini, with an estimate of about 70,000 Bitcoin.
- Tim Draper, venture capitalist, owner of approximately 30,000 units acquired through the public auction of the US Marshals in 2014.
- Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy, privately holds approximately 17,732 Bitcoin.
These figures demonstrate how, even in a decentralized environment, the concentration of wealth remains significant among a few key players.
How far is Satoshi Nakamoto from becoming the richest in the world?
Despite the record price just surpassed by 120,000 dollars, the peak of the world billionaires ranking is still distant. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, maintains the position of undisputed leader with over 404 billion dollars of personal wealth, as reported by Forbes.
For Nakamoto to surpass Musk, the value of Bitcoin would need to increase by 208% and reach at least 370,000 dollars per unit. Only at that point would the theoretical valuation of his Bitcoin wallets exceed that of the planet’s leading magnates, marking an epochal change in the balance of the world’s greatest fortunes.
Bitcoin and the revolution of digital wealth
The rise of Bitcoin is redefining the boundaries between traditional finance and digital assets. While official rankings still struggle to fully recognize crypto assets, the growing market value demands reflection. Nakamoto, while remaining shrouded in anonymity, controls a potential wealth that influences not only the cryptocurrency sector but also the global financial sector.
The impact of this concentration of Bitcoin in the hands of a single or a few entities raises questions of both an ethical and systemic nature. The more the value of Bitcoin grows, the greater the attention that regulators and operators devote to the balances and risks related to this concentration.
The perspective of analysts: what the future may hold
According to several financial analysts, if the historical growth trend remains intact, by 2026 Nakamoto could reach at least second place in the global billionaires ranking. A further projection suggests that, with an annual increase of 50%, the podium position could already be achieved in 2025.
Uncertainty remains regarding the actual liquidity and spendability of such large assets in cryptocurrency. To date, Nakamoto has never acted on their wallets and has never massively converted their reserves into traditional currency, effectively keeping their wealth as “dormant wealth.” Consequently, the real weight of this wealth remains partially theoretical, at least until Bitcoin is fully recognized as a global economic asset by all major financial institutions.
The impact of Bitcoin on contemporary economic paradigms
The new position of Satoshi Nakamoto reflects the explosion of interest in Bitcoin as an economic, cultural, and geopolitical phenomenon. The growing legitimization of the cryptocurrency, even though still excluded from the official calculations of major agencies like Forbes, suggests that digital wealth is destined to play a central role in the future.
The concentration of Bitcoin in the hands of a few and the transparent yet anonymous nature of transactions on blockchain pose unprecedented challenges to regulation and wealth monitoring. However, the story of Nakamoto also serves as an invitation to rethink the distribution and generation of values in the digital age.
Observing these developments, investors, institutions, and individuals are called to carefully evaluate the potential and limits of Bitcoin as a financial asset. In a rapidly changing world, the new geography of wealth redefines power relations and opportunities, opening up scenarios that were unimaginable until a few years ago.