BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF Leads as U.S. Funds Hold 1.1 Million BTC  

• U.S. Bitcoin ETFs collectively hold over 1.1 million BTC, surpassing the holdings of creator Satoshi Nakamoto and major exchanges.  
• BlackRock’s IBIT leads U.S. ETFs with 521,164 BTC, followed by Grayscale’s GBTC and Fidelity’s FBTC as institutional interest surges.  
• Bitcoin ETFs’ total assets under management exceed $109 billion, driven by Bitcoin’s price surge and $33 billion in net inflows since January.  

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States now collectively hold more than 1.1 million BTC. This figure surpasses the estimated stash of Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas highlighted this milestone, confirmed by CoinGlass data, showing 1,105,923 BTC held in U.S. ETFs as of December 6, 2024.

Significant Growth in Bitcoin ETFs 

Since their launch in January, Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. have experienced remarkable growth. These funds have attracted over $33 billion in net inflows, with approximately $2.35 billion added this week alone.  

Bitcoin’s recent price surge, which pushed its value beyond $100,000, has further fueled this expansion. Consequently, the total assets under management across U.S. Bitcoin ETFs now exceed $109 billion, marking a pivotal moment in cryptocurrency investments.

BlackRock’s IBIT Leads the Pack 

BlackRock’s IBIT fund has emerged as the largest Bitcoin ETF in the United States, holding an impressive 521,164 BTC. Following closely are Grayscale’s GBTC fund with 214,217 BTC and Fidelity’s FBTC with 199,183 BTC.  

These ETFs have collectively surpassed major cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance, which holds 633,103 BTC. The funds’ holdings also significantly outpace MicroStrategy’s, the largest corporate Bitcoin holder.

Corporate Bitcoin Investments Gain Traction  

MicroStrategy owns 402,100 BTC, valued at over $40 billion, and remains a prominent advocate for Bitcoin as a treasury asset. The company has continuously expanded its Bitcoin holdings since 2020 and recently announced plans to raise $42 billion for additional purchases.  

Other public companies, including Marathon Digital and Worksport, are also accumulating Bitcoin, reflecting a broader shift among institutional and corporate investors.

The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. earlier this year was a transformative development. This regulatory breakthrough followed a court ruling requiring the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to approve these products.  

The rapid rise of Bitcoin ETFs underscores growing institutional interest and a shift in the cryptocurrency market landscape. With Bitcoin ETFs holding 42% more BTC than Binance and 63% more than MicroStrategy, these funds have become central to institutional cryptocurrency investments.