Currently, the world population exceeds **8 billion people**, according to United Nations estimates in 2022. In contrast, Bitcoin (BTC) has a maximum limited supply of **21 million coins**, of which approximately **19.6 million have already been mined** (as of February 2025), and it is estimated that around **2.4 million are lost or inaccessible** due to forgotten keys or damaged devices. Additionally, a significant portion of the remaining BTC is in the hands of institutions, investment funds, and large investors ("whales"), further reducing the actual availability for the average citizen.
🔍 Scarcity and distribution of Bitcoin:
- **Maximum limit**: 21 million BTC.
- **BTC mined**: ~19.6 million (as of February 2025).
- **BTC lost**: ~2.4 million (estimated).
- **BTC not mined**: ~1.4 million (will be mined progressively until ~2140).
👥 How many people own a whole Bitcoin?
- **Wholecoiners** (people with at least 1 BTC): It is estimated that between **850,000 and 950,000 people** worldwide own a whole Bitcoin. This represents less than **0.012% of the global population**.
- **Fractional ownership**: Most Bitcoin owners hold fractions (e.g., satoshis). It is estimated that **around 562 million people** (6.8% of the global population) own some amount of cryptocurrency, though not necessarily a whole BTC.
🌍 Global context:
- **Inequality in distribution**: The distribution of Bitcoin is highly concentrated. For example, "whales" (addresses with more than 10,000 BTC) control a significant portion of the supply, while most owners have small fractions.
- **Adoption by countries**: Countries like Vietnam, India, Nigeria, and the United States lead in cryptocurrency adoption, but whole BTC ownership remains a minority even in these regions.
