Eric Balchunas, a senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, predicts that Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s enigmatic creator, may soon lose his position as the largest holder of Bitcoin. This shift is expected as US-based Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continue to amass significant holdings.
Bitcoin ETFs on the Rise
Currently, these ETFs hold a combined total of 909,000 Bitcoins. Notably, BlackRock’s IBIT fund alone possesses 347,767 Bitcoins, making it the third-largest holder. Balchunas suggests that BlackRock could become the top Bitcoin holder by late next year, maintaining that position for the foreseeable future.
Debate Over Satoshi’s Holdings
There is ongoing debate regarding the actual size of Satoshi Nakamoto's Bitcoin fortune. While some believe he owns approximately 1.1 million Bitcoins, BitMEX Research argues that the evidence for this is limited. Their analysis suggests that the dominant miner, presumed to be Satoshi, could have mined up to 700,000 Bitcoins.
Market Implications
Satoshi’s substantial Bitcoin holdings have long been considered a potential risk to the cryptocurrency’s market stability. Although these coins have remained dormant for over a decade, there is speculation about what might happen if they were suddenly sold. The existence of a dead man’s switch—a mechanism to release the funds upon the owner’s death—could pose a significant challenge to Bitcoin’s monetary integrity if these coins were liquidated.
Conclusion
As Bitcoin ETFs grow in prominence, Satoshi Nakamoto's once-dominant position is likely to diminish. This shift underscores the evolving landscape of Bitcoin ownership, raising questions about the market's future stability and the potential consequences of large-scale asset movements.