A new research report by River reveals that nearly 50 million Americans, or 14.3% of the population, own bitcoin, the highest ownership rate of any geographical region. Additionally, the report highlights that 32 American public companies, with a combined market capitalization of $1.26 trillion, hold bitcoin as a treasury asset.
Bitcoin Ownership Demographics and Corporate Adoption
According to a new research report by River, nearly 50 million Americans—14.3% of the country’s population—own bitcoin ( BTC). This proportion is the highest of any region and is more than three percentage points higher than North America’s overall ownership rate of 10.7%.
The report attributes two major factors—access and culture—as key reasons why U.S. citizens are more likely to own bitcoin than those in other developed economies. The reports that the United States’ “deep-rooted” culture of entrepreneurship, individual investing, and financial freedom has led to early adoption of BTC. Additionally, the widespread availability of bitcoin and the absence of accreditation requirements for cryptocurrency investments have made Americans more inclined to invest in BTC than other nationalities.
The research also shows that interest in or ownership of BTC is not driven by ideology, race, ethnicity, or religion. However, data suggests that males and younger Americans hold the most BTC compared to other demographic groups. The River report also supports the idea that U.S. corporations, including publicly listed companies, increasingly view bitcoin as a legitimate treasury asset.
“Thirty-two American public companies, representing a combined market capitalization of $1.26 trillion, hold Bitcoin as a treasury asset. These companies account for 94.8% of all Bitcoin owned by publicly traded firms worldwide,” the River report states.
ETF Adoption and Bitcoin’s Broader Impact
The introduction of bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in early 2024 provided individual investors and even pension funds with exposure to BTC. The report indicates that more than half of America’s 25 largest hedge funds and investment advisors now hold bitcoin via ETFs.
Beyond its widespread ownership, bitcoin is fueling a broader financial debate about whether it or gold is the ideal asset to hold in times of economic uncertainty. Additionally, bitcoin has contributed to job creation, with more than 20,000 Americans currently employed by over 150 bitcoin-related companies.
Regarding bitcoin mining, the report states that the United States accounts for 36% of the global hashrate, more than twice China’s share. America’s hashrate dominance has increased by more than 500% since 2020.
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