Among people involved in cryptocurrencies, only 0.36% hold more than one Bitcoin — the concentration of wealth illustrates the reality of digital assets. Even among cryptocurrency enthusiasts, only a tiny fraction, just 0.36%, owns more than a single Bitcoin, highlighting how wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few. This distribution reflects the broader trend of digital assets where a small percentage controls most of the holdings, emphasizing the disparity in wealth within the crypto community.

There are a vast number of participants in the world of cryptocurrencies, but in reality, only a small fraction are true asset holders. When looking at all people involved in cryptocurrencies, the proportion of those holding a meaningful level of Bitcoin is surprisingly low. As of 2024, the number of global cryptocurrency users has reached approximately 420 million, but only about 1.5 million hold more than 1 Bitcoin. This accounts for just 0.36% of the entire currency ecosystem.

The Scale of Cryptocurrency Users and the Reality of Bitcoin Holders

Bitcoin is known for its scarcity, and this scarcity becomes even clearer when viewed through numbers. The total supply of Bitcoin is fixed at 21 million coins, and as of January 2026, about 19.98 million have already been mined. The fact that 93.32% of the total has been mined means that the remaining 6.68% (about 1.41 million coins) will be gradually generated over the next 100 years.

However, an important perspective arises here. Of the approximately 20 million mined Bitcoins, about 6 million are effectively lost. Owners who forgot their private keys or lost hardware wallets are permanently unable to access these coins. In other words, only around 13.59 million Bitcoins are actually circulating in the market. Looking at this number alone, it suggests that at most, 13.59 million people could hold one coin each, assuming an equal distribution.

The Gap Between Lost Bitcoins and Actual Circulating Supply

The reality is even more complex. Analyzing the latest data as of January 2026 reveals a surprising inequality in Bitcoin ownership and concentration. By analyzing address data on the blockchain, it is found that only 1.94% of all addresses control 92.76% of the total supply. In other words, roughly 1.02 million addresses hold the overwhelming majority.

However, this number of 1.02 million addresses does not necessarily reflect the final count. It is common for a single individual to hold multiple wallet addresses, and many of the addresses holding large amounts of Bitcoin are likely exchange or fund cold wallets, or financial institutions. Therefore, the actual number of individual holders is probably even smaller than the surface numbers suggest.

The Layered Structure of Cryptocurrency Participants Seen from Exchange Users

Analysis of exchange data yields similarly interesting results. Currently, the total Bitcoin managed by various exchanges is about 1.89 million coins. Theoretically, this could mean up to 1.89 million people holding at least one coin, but in practice, the distribution is far from equal.

Applying the 80/20 rule, 80% of individual investors hold only about 20% of the total (around 379,000 coins). This means fewer than 378,000 individual investors hold more than 1 Bitcoin. Assuming a ratio of 1:4 between institutional and individual investors, the number of institutions would be about 94,500, with each holding on average more than 16 coins.

Summarizing this calculation, approximately 472,500 users involved in cryptocurrencies hold more than 1 Bitcoin through exchanges. Considering overlaps between blockchain addresses and exchange users, the total is about 1.49 million, aligning with previous statistical data.

The Importance of Proportions in the Cryptocurrency World

In other words, among the approximately 420 million cryptocurrency participants as of 2024, only about 1.5 million hold more than 1 Bitcoin. This represents just 0.36%. What this number reveals is the significant gap between the large number of participants and the actual asset holders.

While anyone can participate in the cryptocurrency world, the proportion of those holding meaningful assets is more limited than many imagine. This high concentration reflects the fact that the cryptocurrency market is still in its early stages, with wealth concentrated among a few early entrants. Many cryptocurrency participants understand this scarcity and are working on asset accumulation from a long-term perspective.