In 2025, owning a whole bitcoin can be achieved by only a tiny fraction of the planet's population — and this makes holders of a whole coin true bluebirds in the financial world.
According to blockchain data, approximately 827,000–900,000 addresses currently hold at least 1 bitcoin. But don't be misled by these numbers — many of these wallets belong to exchanges, institutional investors, or individuals who have split their assets across multiple addresses. The actual number of unique holders of one bitcoin is likely around 800,000–850,000 people.
Of the eight billion inhabitants of Earth, this means that owning 1 bitcoin is accessible to only 0.01%–0.02% of the population. Even more impressive is the statistic among crypto investors: in 2025, only 0.18% of cryptocurrency holders actually own a whole bitcoin or more. In other words, fewer than two out of every thousand participants in the crypto market have reached this milestone.
When a millionaire is not the standard of wealth
With the current price of bitcoin above $110,000, purchasing a whole coin requires serious financial capability. To allocate such an amount to one volatile asset, both high income and strong confidence in your decision are needed.
There are about 16 million millionaires in the world, but fewer than 900,000 people own at least one bitcoin. This creates a paradox: owning a whole bitcoin is rarer than millionaire status. NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. converted his 2021 salary of $750,000 into bitcoins — that amount would now be worth about $1.35 million.
The mathematics of scarcity
Satoshi Nakamoto set a hard cap of 21 million coins. By mid-2025, more than 19.8 million bitcoins have already been mined, leaving less than 1.2 million for future issuance. Considering lost coins and accumulated reserves, the available pool shrinks even further.
The distribution is extremely uneven. Only 1.86% of all bitcoin addresses control 90% of the supply. Four addresses with balances ranging from 100,000 to 1 million bitcoins collectively own 14% of all coins. The top 100 addresses hold over 58% of the total.
The creator of bitcoin is estimated to own between 750,000 to 1.1 million coins worth $92–135 billion.
Barriers on the path to a whole bitcoin
About 6.8% of the world's population — approximately 560 million people — own cryptocurrencies, according to a Triple-A study for 2024. But only a small part of this group has accumulated enough to buy a whole coin. Most own less than 0.01 bitcoin.
Obstacles are not only financial but also infrastructural. About 1.4 billion adults remain unbanked, with limited access to the internet and crypto services. Even in regions with developed mobile payments, users face KYC requirements, high fees, and uncertainty in tax regulation.
Psychological barriers also play a role. The volatility of bitcoin can be paralyzing — from $109,000 to the mid-$70,000s in just a few weeks. Influential investors like Robert Shiller, Warren Buffett, and George Soros have labeled bitcoin a bubble or a Ponzi scheme, which does not instill confidence in average investors.
Paths to the coveted coin
Accumulation strategies exist but require time, risk, or significant capital. The most popular approach is dollar-cost averaging through regular fixed-sum purchases. This helps smooth out volatility and gradually approach the target.
The launch of spot bitcoin ETFs in 2024 opened new opportunities for traditional investors. Products like BlackRock IBIT and Fidelity FBTC attracted over $120 billion, providing regulated channels for mass investment.
Web3 company workers may consider receiving their salaries in cryptocurrency — this simplifies the monthly conversion of part of their income into bitcoin with minimal fees.
Owning a whole bitcoin in 2025 is not just an investment but membership in an exclusive club that may never expand to a million members. With the current distribution and growing institutional demand, entering this group is becoming increasingly difficult.