Bitcoin

How many crypto millionaires are there? Meet the whales.

Published

3 weeks ago

October 31, 2024

Many people have stumbled upon unexpected wealth thanks to cryptocurrencies. You don’t have to be an expert to see that Bitcoin’s price is sky-high compared to when it first started. Back around 12-15 years ago, you could buy thousands of Bitcoins for almost nothing.

It’s believed that the biggest gains were made by those who believed in digital currencies at the very beginning. But fast forward to today, and new coins are still popping up, offering fresh opportunities to make a fortune. Recent reports show that the number of crypto millionaires is on the rise, proving that people are still cashing in on this digital gold rush. How many cryptocurrency millionaires are there?

Understanding crypto millionaires

Crypto millionaires come from diverse backgrounds and employ various strategies to maintain their wealth. Beyond early investors, many have made their fortunes through savvy trading, capitalizing on market volatility to buy low and sell high.

Others have really flourished in the world of decentralized finance, finding ways to earn passive income by lending out their assets or providing liquidity to exchanges. Some crypto millionaires really make the most of their expertise by launching exciting projects that solve real problems or offer new experiences, drawing in significant investment.

The crypto world changes fast, and these millionaires realize that staying attuned to market trends is key to their continued success.

Estimating the number of crypto millionaires

How many crypto millionaires are there in the world? According to the 2024 report by New World Wealth and Henley&Partners, there are currently 172,300 individuals worldwide who hold crypto assets worth over $1 million.

The number of millionaires exclusively owning Bitcoin has more than doubled compared to last year, reaching 85,400. Wealth growth in the crypto industry is being observed at all levels. There are now 325 crypto centimillionaires — individuals with crypto assets exceeding $100 million — and 28 crypto billionaires.

Among the six new crypto billionaires who emerged in the past year, five attribute their wealth to Bitcoin, highlighting its dominant role among long-term investors.

How many crypto millionaires are there? Meet the industry’s biggest players - 1

Worldwide crypto wealth statistics | Source: Henley&Partners

Factors influencing the number of crypto millionaires

The surge in wealthy individuals within the crypto space can be traced back to the growth of Bitcoin ETFs, which have gathered over $50 billion in assets since their introduction in January 2024, enticing institutional investors.

Additionally, just this March, Bitcoin (BTC) soared to a new all-time high of about $73,750, contributing to the total market value of crypto assets climbing to $2.43 trillion at the time of writing. This growth has undoubtedly made many crypto holders richer. Although some coins still haven’t bounced back to their 2021 peak values, the acceptance of cryptocurrencies by big names like BlackRock and Fidelity could fuel even more wealth for those heavily invested.

Who are some of the top crypto whales?

According to Forbes, the list of crypto whales features the founders of prominent exchanges, developers behind blockchain platforms, and other influential figures closely tied to the crypto scene. Here are the five richest among them.

Paolo Ardoino

How many crypto millionaires are there? Meet the industry’s biggest players - 2 — *Paolo Ardoino | Source:* *CoinDesk*

Paolo Ardoino is a notable player in the crypto world, stepping into the CEO role at Tether in 2023. His journey began in 2014 as a senior software developer at Bitfinex, and since then, he has been instrumental in Tether’s growth, expanding its stablecoin offerings and enhancing blockchain infrastructure. Ardoino’s net worth is estimated at $3.9 billion.

Michael Saylor

How many crypto millionaires are there? Meet the industry’s biggest players - 3 — *Michael Saylor | Source:* *michael.com*

Michael Saylor is the founder and CEO of MicroStrategy, a company that specializes in business analytics software. Since 2020, he has passionately championed Bitcoin, leading his firm to make bold acquisitions in the cryptocurrency. This innovative approach has allowed MicroStrategy to stand out as a pioneer among public companies in the ever-evolving crypto arena. Saylor’s net worth is estimated at $4.4 billion.

Giancarlo Devasini

How many crypto millionaires are there? Meet the industry’s biggest players - 4 — *Giancarlo Devasini | Source:* *Bloomberg*

Giancarlo Devasini co-founded Bitfinex and served as its CEO for a period. Currently, he’s the Chief Financial Officer and holds a 47% stake in Tether, a position that has greatly contributed to his wealth. His net worth is estimated at $9.2 billion.

Brian Armstrong

How many crypto millionaires are there? Meet the industry’s biggest players - 5 — *Brian Armstrong | Source:* *CNN*

Brian Armstrong is the founder and CEO of Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. With its easy navigation and solid security, Coinbase has gained a loyal following.

Beyond his work with the exchange, Armstrong actively supports the blockchain community, co-founding the Stand With Crypto movement to encourage education and advocate for favorable regulatory changes. His net worth is estimated at $11.2 billion.

Changpeng Zhao

How many crypto millionaires are there? Meet the industry’s biggest players - 6 — *Changpeng Zhao | Source:* *CNN*

Often called ‘CZ’, Changpeng Zhao is the founder and former CEO of Binance, the biggest cryptocurrency exchange out there. His wealth stems from his ability to elevate Binance into a premier trading platform and his strategic investments in innovative blockchain projects that are making waves in the industry. Although he stepped down as CEO following an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, his influence as a leading crypto whale remains strong. Zhao’s net worth is estimated at $33 billion.

Counting Millionaires

In summary, there are around 85,000 known millionaires in the world, although the true number is difficult to ascertain due to the pseudonymous or even anonymous features baked into cryptocurrency technology.

The wealth of crypto whales reflects not only their personal success but also the growing significance of digital assets in the global economy.

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Bitcoin

Bitcoin Breakout At $93,257 Barrier Fuels Bullish Optimism

Published

1 hour ago

November 22, 2024

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Bitcoin has shattered expectations once again, surging past the critical $93,257 level in a display of unstoppable momentum. This breakout has ignited fresh waves of bullish optimism across the crypto market, as traders and investors anticipate greater gains. With market sentiment shifting and key indicators aligning, could this be the spark for Bitcoin’s next major rally?

As optimism steadily increases in the market, the goal is to take a closer look at BTC’s impressive breakout above the $93,257 mark, analyze the positive sentiment driving its climb, and assess the potential for continued upward strength in the market.

Bullish Indicators: What’s Fueling BTC’s Uptrend?

Currently, on the 4-hour chart, BTC is sustaining its position after successfully surpassing the $93,257 mark while trading above the 100-day Simple Moving Average (SMA). By maintaining its position above this level and the 100-day SMA, BTC demonstrates resilience and capability for more price growth, targeting new highs.

An analysis of the 4-hour Relative Strength Index (RSI) shows a significant surge, climbing to 70% from its previous low of 56%, indicating strong bullish pressure for BTC. While this increase signals growing positive market sentiment, it raises concerns about the rally’s sustainability since a price correction could occur if profit-taking ensues.

Bitcoin is showing strong positive movement after breaking past the $93,257 level, supported by a rise above the 100-day SMA, reflecting sustained bullish strength and potential for continued upward movement. The fact that BTC is consistently above the 100-day SMA suggests a solid trend and that the bulls are eager to push prices higher, possibly leading to an extended growth if pressure continues to build.

Finally, the RSI on the daily chart is currently at 81%, well above the key 50% threshold, signaling a strong uptrend for Bitcoin. With the RSI at this level, it suggests that the upside pressure is likely to continue, which means that Bitcoin’s price could keep rising in the near term, as there are no signs of a reversal or decline.

What The $93,257 Breakout Signals For Bitcoin

The $93,257 breakout opens the door to a more optimistic future outlook for Bitcoin. This key resistance level has been decisively breached, suggesting that BTC may continue its upbeat momentum, potentially targeting higher price levels such as the $100,000 mark and beyond.

However, careful monitoring is essential for any signs of resistance or market corrections that could hinder its ascent. Should such a scenario occur, Bitcoin’s price could begin to drop toward the $93,257 mark. A break below this level might trigger further declines, possibly testing additional support levels in the process.

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Bitcoin

Bitcoin Approaches $100K; Retail Investors Stay Steady

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

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Bitcoin trades at $99,340.23, approaching the $100K mark as retail investors retain market dominance.

What is more interesting about this rally is the dominance of retail investors, who currently account for 88.07% of all Bitcoin (BTC) in circulation, according to The Block. Contrary to the recent claims that institutional investors are leaving retail investors behind in ownership of BTCs, the asset is still in the hands of retail investors, which underlines their stronghold in the market. This grassroots stronghold contrasts the much smaller shares held by whales at 1.26% and institutional investors at 10.68%.

Bitcoin edges at $100K while retail investors still hold the reins - 1 — A heat map showing whales, investors and retail investors of Bitcoin. | Source: crypto.news

Adding momentum to BTC, the historic debut of BlackRock’s BTC ETF options witnessed $1.9 billion in notional value traded on the first day. It is a landmark news because it signifies growing institutional interest in BTC, yet lowers entry barriers for everyday investors. But there’s still some way to go, says Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise Invest, in his observations on X about the ETF’s potential to reshape access to BTC.

1/ Just as we expected, the market launched with a beautiful “volatility smile” quickly established by 945AM and for the rest of the day. In fact, the smile got even wider throughout the day, finishing with higher wings by EoD. pic.twitter.com/BHI09pORS4
— Jeff Park (@dgt10011) November 20, 2024

Jeff Park comment on BTC ETF

Bitcoin Breakdown:

How BTC ownership is distributed supports the overall trend of asset availability in the market. Companies such as Coinbase have substantial quantities of BTC, holding more than 2.25 million BTC. However, most of this is kept for their clients. Satoshi Nakamoto‘s wallet, which contains 96,8452 BTC, remains untouched as it played a role in creating the Genesis block.

Overall, funds and ETFs account for 1.09 million BTC, or about 5.2%, while governments such as the U.S. and China collectively hold around 2.5%.

Despite BTC witnessing price surges, the market is far from stable and often shows extreme volatility. For instance, on Nov. 21, the price of BTC dipped to $95,756.24, with trading volume reaching $98.40 billion. This volatility then reflects the vital role that retail investors play during price hikes, even as institutional investors become more active in the market.

Some argue that BTC is becoming more centralized, but the data does not back this claim. Financial products like ETFs are attractive to institutions, but they also make BTC more accessible to retail investors. BTC continues to align with Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision of a decentralized and democratized financial system. As BTC nears the $100,000 threshold, its open-and-shut conversation that BTC’s ownership remains essential.

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Bitcoin Nears $100,000 As Trump Council Expected To Implement BTC Reserve

Published

9 hours ago

November 22, 2024

admin

What an enormous day it has been today.

Gary Gensler officially announced that he is stepping down from his position as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and minutes later, Reuters reported that Donald Trump’s “crypto council” is expected to “establish Trump’s promised bitcoin reserve.” A bitcoin reserve, that would see the United States purchase 200,000 bitcoin per year, for five years until it has bought 1,000,000 bitcoin.

Right after both of those, Bitcoin continued its upward momentum and broke $99,000, with $100,000 feeling like it can happen at any second now.

It is hard to contain my bullishness thinking about the United States purchasing 200,000 BTC per year. They essentially have to compete with everyone else in the world who is also accumulating bitcoin and attempting to front run them. There are only 21 million bitcoin and that is a LOT of demand.

To put this into context, so far this year the US spot bitcoin ETFs have accumulated a combined total of over 1 million BTC. At the time of launch the price was ~$44,000 and now bitcoin is practically at $100,000. And that’s all ETFs combined. Imagine what will happen when just one entity wants to buy a total of 1 million coins, having to compete with everyone else accumulating large amounts as well?

I mean MicroStrategy literally just completed another $3 BILLION raise to buy more bitcoin, and will continue raising until it purchases $42 billion more in bitcoin. The United States are most likely going to be purchasing their coins (if this legislation is officially signed into law) at very high prices. The demand is insane and only rising in the foreseeable future.

With two months left to go until Trump officially takes office, it remains to be seen if this bill becomes law, but at the moment things are looking really good. As Senator Cynthia Lummis stated, “This is our Louisiana Purchase moment!” and would be an absolutely historic moment for Bitcoin, Bitcoiners, and the future financial dominance of the United States of America.

This is the solution.
This is the answer.
This is our Louisiana Purchase moment!#Bitcoin2024 pic.twitter.com/RNEiLaB16U
— Senator Cynthia Lummis (@SenLummis) July 27, 2024