Will Satoshi Nakamoto Keep as Global Billionaire Top 15?

Calvin James

On Monday, July 14th, Bitcoin, the first and largest cryptocurrency by market cap, recorded a new historic level. According to market data, Bitcoin surged to new price levels that saw its market cap grow, toppling established companies and precious metals. However, as of late, companies like Amazon have regained their ground, reclaiming the 5th rank where Bitcoin had settled for over 24 hours. In the same note, Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious figure, increased his wealth rankings to a new position, pushing Michael Dell one bar below by taking the 11th richest person in the world.

Bitcoin’s Creator Enters Billionaire Top 15 After Price Rally

Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin, has joined the world’s top fifteen richest individuals. The entry follows Bitcoin’s surge to a new ATH, raising Nakamoto’s estimated net worth to over $131 billion. According to the blockchain analytics platform Arkham, Nakamoto controls approximately 1.096 million BTC, which is distributed across multiple wallets. Based on current market data, this ranks him above several industry leaders by total wealth.

https://x.com/arkham/status/1943725204955340818

Nakamoto’s net worth now exceeds that of Michael Dell, founder of Dell Technologies, whose wealth stands at $125.1 billion. This position places Nakamoto at number eleven globally. However, Forbes has yet to factor in crypto wallet balances in its calculations officially. The valuation is based solely on current Bitcoin market prices.

Current Top Assets by Market Cap

Tracking the current market trend in terms of the leading assets, Bitcoin remains ahead of Google and Silver, which earlier ranked above BTC. Market data at the time of press indicates that Bitcoin ranks sixth with a market capitalization of $2.351 trillion. Its current price is in the range of $114,000 – $118,000. The asset gains as the 30-day price movement indicates a strong upward trend. However, Gold ranks first with a market capitalization of $22.446 trillion and a current price of $3,343. Its 30-day trend shows moderate downward movement.

Source: Companies MarketCap

Bitcoin Needs a Major Climb to Reach Top Spot

Despite the increase, Nakamoto would require a significant price surge to claim the number one billionaire rank. Based on current standings, Bitcoin must reach $370,000 per token for Nakamoto’s wealth to surpass Elon Musk’s. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, currently holds an estimated net worth of $404 billion.

Other high-ranking individuals include Larry Ellison and Mark Zuckerberg, each worth around $274 billion. Data from Nansen confirms Bitcoin reached $120,000 over the weekend, marking a new all-time high. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas projected Nakamoto could reach second place by late 2026. This assumes Bitcoin continues to average 50% in annual growth.

https://x.com/EricBalchunas/status/1929513206176752029

In another forecast, Markus Thielen of 10x Research estimated a 60% probability of Bitcoin reaching $133,000 by September. Other projections include Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan expecting $200,000 by 2025. Arthur Hayes predicted $250,000 by year-end. Currently, all corporate and custodial holdings combine for around 847,000 BTC. Individual holders include the Winklevoss twins, Tim Draper, and Michael Saylor.

What is Fuelling Bitcoin Growth?

Bitcoin is experiencing renewed price momentum, supported by strong capital inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs and growing regulatory clarity. The combination of institutional investments and proposed legislation is contributing to a shift in market dynamics. These developments are adding both liquidity and confidence across trading platforms. As a result, Bitcoin’s position continues to strengthen in the current cycle.

Tracking the recent ETF performance, on July 15, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs registered a daily net inflow of $402.99 million. This marked the seventh straight day of positive inflows, pointing to sustained institutional demand. The total cumulative net inflow has now reached $53.07 billion across all ETF issuers. The total value traded for the day came in at $6.70 billion, showing increased activity and investor engagement.

Source: SoSoValue (Bitcoin ETFs)

Bitcoin ETFs now hold $149.66 billion in net assets, which equals 6.46% of Bitcoin’s market capitalization. BlackRock’s IBIT led with $416.35 million in inflows and $84.16 billion in total assets. IBIT also posted the highest volume with $5.46 billion traded across 82 million shares. Meanwhile, some ETFs like Grayscale’s GBTC and Fidelity’s FBTC recorded outflows of $41.22 million and $22.93 million, respectively.

Recent developments in Washington are also influencing Bitcoin’s upward movement. U.S. lawmakers are reviewing three major bills aimed at shaping national crypto policy. These include the GENIUS Act, the CLARITY Act, and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act. The ongoing legislative activity, referred to as “Crypto Week,” is being monitored closely by market participants. In February 2024, spot ETFs accounted for 75% of Bitcoin inflows over two weeks. That trend, combined with renewed legal focus, is driving Bitcoin’s continued momentum and institutional acceptance across markets.

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