- Arkham links 22,000 addresses to Satoshi through the Patoshi Pattern, holding an estimated 1.096M BTC, over 5% of supply.
- Satoshi’s Bitcoin holdings exceeded $125B at Arkham’s report, surpassing Gates’ Forbes-listed $118B fortune.
- The linked BTC remains untouched, making Satoshi’s wealth highly concentrated and potentially impactful if large-scale selling occurs.
Satoshi Nakamoto’s estimated Bitcoin fortune has surpassed Bill Gates’ stated wealth, according to Arkham. The blockchain intelligence firm linked 22,000 addresses to Bitcoin’s creator using the Patoshi Pattern, identifying 1.096 million BTC. At the time of Arkham’s report, those holdings exceeded $125 billion, compared with Gates’ $118 billion fortune listed by Forbes.
Arkham Links 22,000 Addresses to Satoshi
Arkham said the wallets linked to Nakamoto have never moved their Bitcoin. Its estimate covers roughly 1.096 million BTC, representing more than 5% of circulating Bitcoin supply. The addresses were grouped into one entity on Arkham Intel.
Researchers used the Patoshi Pattern to identify addresses associated with early Bitcoin mining activity. According to Arkham, the method uses a privacy flaw found in early Bitcoin clients. The firm used that pattern to connect the addresses with Nakamoto.
The reported valuation changes with Bitcoin’s market price. However, Arkham placed Nakamoto’s holdings above $125 billion when it published the comparison.
Gates Holds a More Diversified Fortune
Forbes lists Bill Gates’ fortune at $118 billion, according to Arkham’s comparison. Gates founded Microsoft and holds about 1.3% of the company’s shares. Microsoft has a reported valuation of $3.88 trillion.
The company ranks as the world’s second-most valuable company, behind Nvidia. Gates’ wealth also includes assets outside Microsoft. His investment company, Cascade Investments, holds Berkshire Hathaway shares and invests in startups.
Additionally, Cascade owns significant real estate assets. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also holds substantial assets within Gates’ broader wealth strategy. Arkham said Gates has donated more than $59 billion to the foundation. These holdings differ from Nakamoto’s reported Bitcoin wealth, which remains concentrated in BTC.
Satoshi’s Holdings Remain Untouched
Arkham described Nakamoto’s Bitcoin holdings as highly illiquid because the linked wallets remain untouched. The firm also discussed the potential market impact of any future Bitcoin sales. According to Arkham, a large-scale sale could create heavy pressure on Bitcoin’s price.
The report said the outcome would depend on the size and speed of any sales. The comparison therefore centers on two different forms of wealth. Nakamoto’s estimated fortune comes from 1.096 million BTC across linked addresses.
Gates’ reported wealth comes from Microsoft shares, investment holdings, real estate and foundation-related assets. Arkham’s estimate places Nakamoto above Gates based on Bitcoin’s value at the report’s publication.
