Learn what causes the BTC prices to fluctuate & learn how to plan your trading strategies.

Bitcoin dominates the digital currency world with its name recognition and colossal footprint. This digital asset has become the flagship of the cryptocurrency revolution, shaping our understanding of the nature of money in the digital age. Since its inception in 2009, Bitcoin has persistently occupied center stage in crypto markets, challenging traditional notions of investment and sparking heated debate about the very essence of currency.

Its roller-coaster–like price fluctuations are well-documented and often a topic of concern. With every surge and plummet of Bitcoin's price, the enigmatic question bubbles up: "When is the best time to buy and sell Bitcoin?" This question isn't confined to the seasoned trader or the savvy tech enthusiast. It extends to novices and financial veterans alike, reflecting the complexity and uncertainty inherent in Bitcoin's infamous volatility.

This article attempts to provide insights into the evergreen dilemma of when to buy Bitcoin as an investment. By leveraging historical patterns, cutting through market predictions and examining the myriad of factors influencing Bitcoin's price shifts, this piece aims to provide a framework for understanding of investment strategy in this highly volatile but potentially profitable digital asset.

Reflecting on Bitcoin's journey from its 2009 launch to the present, the interplay between its trading volume, halving events and price trajectory paints a fascinating picture of how this pioneering digital asset has evolved.

Bitcoin's trading volume (the number of bitcoins exchanged within a specific time frame) has grown substantially since its inception, indicating heightened market activity. This surge mirrors Bitcoin's escalating popularity and increasing acceptance as a viable investment and transactional medium. Trading volume ebbs and flows based on factors like price shifts, regulatory changes, tech advancements and worldwide events. Per CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin's price on May 22, 2023, was $26,894.03, with a 

, attesting to the lively interest in this cryptocurrency market.

Central to Bitcoin's evolution is its halving process. Each time 210,000 Bitcoin blocks have been mined — roughly every four years — this built-in mechanism slashes the reward miners receive for validating transactions and minting new bitcoins by 50%. This strategic design is meant to regulate Bitcoin's inflation rate and safeguard its scarcity. It inherently influences the rate of Bitcoin creation and, consequently, its supply.

Historically, a significant price increase has been observed with each halving due to supply-demand dynamics. The last halving occurred in May 2020, reducing the block reward from 12.5 to 6.25 bitcoins, and we anticipate the next one around April 2024, resulting in a halved block reward of 3.125 bitcoins. 

Bitcoin Price Trajectory in 2022 vs. 2023

Bitcoin's tumultuous journey saw its value spiking to 

 in November 2021, before a sharp decline to 

 in June 2022. It has since recovered to $26,894.03 as of May 22, 2023. The trajectory of Bitcoin prices in 2023 hinges on a multitude of factors. 

Macroeconomic conditions, technological developments within the crypto space and regulatory shifts all can potentially sway Bitcoin's value. Additionally, elements like increased institutional adoption, continuous innovation and Bitcoin's inherent scarcity could contribute to a price rally.

 had a contagious effect on the crypto market, leading to Bitcoin’s price crash in Q2 of 2022.

Conversely, factors such as heightened regulation, an economic downturn or potential technical issues pose risks of a price crash. Given Bitcoin's volatility, careful research is crucial before making investment decisions. Ultimately, while we can speculate based on these factors, Bitcoin's exact price path in 2023 will only unfold with time.

Bitcoin's evolution to its current status is a product of its growing mass adoption, mirrored in its trading volumes, supply constraints from halving events and price fluctuations impacted by many factors. It's an ever-evolving landscape, revealing both the opportunities and risks this revolutionary digital asset presents.

What Causes Bitcoin’s Price to Fluctuate?

Bitcoin's value fluctuates based on a myriad of intertwined factors, primarily dictated by the balance between supply and demand. When the demand for Bitcoin surges, the price naturally rises, since it has a finite supply. Conversely, a downturn in demand or an upturn in supply, such as from additional Bitcoin mining, can cause the price to drop. 

However, the price of Bitcoin is also heavily influenced by the overarching investor sentiment, i.e., crypto prices can pivot drastically due to significant news or events related to Bitcoin or the broader financial market. Investing in Bitcoin is considered a risky investment, so when the traditional financial market is experiencing downturns, Bitcoin sometimes suffers from a 

Regulation and technological advances also contribute significantly to the ebb and flow of Bitcoin's price. Regulatory updates worldwide can dramatically swing Bitcoin's value. A major economy imposing a ban, for instance, could cause the price to dive as a result of a sudden demand slump. In contrast, supportive regulatory changes can bolster its price. Technological progress, including improvements to the Bitcoin protocol or broader tech advancements, can also push up the price by influencing its appeal to investors.

Distinct elements within the cryptocurrency ecosystem, such as halving events and economic fluctuations, hold substantial sway. Bitcoin halving events can trigger price movements due to the resulting constraint of the new Bitcoin supply. Periods of uncertainty in traditional markets may amplify Bitcoin's demand, given its status as “digital gold” and a perceived safe haven from conventional financial systems. Additionally, 

 investors executing large-scale buy or sell orders can create abrupt price swings. 

Even with full knowledge of these factors, forecasting Bitcoin's price trajectory remains a daunting task due to the numerous unpredictable elements at play and the innate volatility of the cryptocurrency market.

As the world’s leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin has endured a volatile journey throughout 2022, with its value plummeting by more than half amidst regulatory crackdowns, market crashes and scandals. Given this, many investors are contemplating Bitcoin's prospects for 2023 and guessing whether it will rally or continue on a downward trajectory. There is no definitive answer, as Bitcoin’s price is influenced by factors such as supply and demand dynamics, inflation, technological advancements, investor sentiment and broader adoption. Nevertheless, several analysts and experts have offered predictions based on varying assumptions and scenarios.

Tim Draper, a billionaire venture capitalist and staunch crypto enthusiast, predicts a bullish scenario for Bitcoin in the near future, anticipating that BTC will 

 by mid-2023, propelled by growing participation by women in the crypto market and the forthcoming halving event in 2024, which will slash the supply of new Bitcoins. Draper asserts that Bitcoin is a superior form of currency, and envisages it replacing traditional fiat currencies to become a global standard.

On the other hand, there are analysts who hold a bearish outlook for Bitcoin. Eric Robertsen, Head of Global Research and Chief Strategist at Standard Chartered, predicts that Bitcoin’s price 

 by the end of 2023 due to regulatory pressures, environmental issues and competition from other cryptocurrencies. He believes Bitcoin's dominance will diminish as investors diversify their portfolios with other digital assets that offer enhanced scalability, efficiency and utility. Mark Mobius, veteran investor and founder of Mobius Capital Partners, expects BTC’s price to 

 in 2023 as governments clamp down on its use for unlawful activities and tax evasion.

Carol Alexander, a finance professor at the University of Sussex, presents a more moderate perspective. She anticipates that Bitcoin’s value will hit $30,000 in the initial quarter of 2023, eventually 

 by the third or fourth quarter. Alexander attributes this potential increase to the involvement of whale investors, who hold large amounts of Bitcoin and can significantly influence its price. She also foresees that Bitcoin will gain from heightened innovation and adoption within the crypto arena, as well as from inflationary pressures that devalue fiat currencies.

A definitive answer to the question of the best time to invest in Bitcoin remains elusive, given that Bitcoin's price is governed by so many different factors. However, there are several key indicators that can guide you to make decisions, based on your risk tolerance and investment objectives.

One such indicator is the Bitcoin halving event, which cultivates a scarcity market sentiment that typically propels Bitcoin's price upward, driven by the anticipation of reduced supply. As mentioned above, Bitcoin's price has witnessed significant growth in the months and years after a halving event.

The adoption of Bitcoin by institutional investors, corporations and governments serves as another vital indicator. As mainstream entities increasingly recognize Bitcoin as a store of value, a transactional medium or a hedge against inflation, its demand (and subsequently, its price) tend to escalate. Instances of recent adoption include Tesla's purchase of $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin in February 2021, MicroStrategy's Bitcoin holdings exceeding $2 billion as of March 2021, and El Salvador's groundbreaking move to declare Bitcoin legal tender in June 2021.

Innovation and competition within the cryptocurrency sphere constitute a third significant indicator. As emerging technologies and platforms enhance the functionality, security and scalability of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, the overall interest and confidence in the crypto market surges, attracting more investors. Recent innovations include the Lightning Network, which facilitates fast and cost-effective Bitcoin transactions; DeFi (decentralized finance), offering diverse financial services without intermediaries; and NFTs (

), providing digital ownership and verification of unique assets, a 

 is a fundamental investment principle. However, applying it to Bitcoin can be tricky, due to its substantial volatility. Rather than trying 

 to impulsive decisions driven by market swings, it's typically recommended you consider a long-term Bitcoin investing plan.

When it comes to Bitcoin, accurately predicting price shifts for buying low and selling high can be challenging within the crypto landscape.

Instead of trying to time the market, an approach called 

 (DCA) is often advised. In this strategy, you regularly invest a set amount of money, regardless of Bitcoin's current price. This helps lessen the impact of market volatility, since you end up buying more Bitcoin when prices are low and less when they’re high. DCA reduces your average cost per unit over time and promotes consistent investing, instead of reactive decisions based on market fluctuations. In addition, it allows you to benefit from Bitcoin's potential long-term growth as you gradually accumulate more units of BTC.

In a nutshell, while buying low and selling high may sound appealing, it can be challenging to implement with Bitcoin's volatile nature. A more systematic strategy, such as dollar-cost averaging, could offer more reliable long-term returns.

Investing in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies demands staying current with price movements and market trends. Various platforms offer real-time data and trend analysis to help investors track these digital assets. Here are some top-rated Bitcoin and crypto price trackers:

When choosing a Bitcoin or crypto price tracker, think about your individual needs and preferences. Look at factors like features, data accuracy, user interface and cost. Remember, due to the volatile nature of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, these trackers should be used judiciously and complemented with your own research before making investment decisions.

Buying and selling Bitcoin on Bybit, a prominent cryptocurrency trading platform, involves a few key steps that ensure a smooth transaction process. Here's a detailed step-by-step guide to help you navigate this process:

Navigating the dynamic world of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies can be complex, given its high volatility and constant evolution. The price of Bitcoin is dictated by a multitude of factors, including but not limited to supply and demand dynamics, technological advancements, shifts in the regulatory landscape, global economic scenarios and significant transactions made on cryptocurrency exchanges by whale investors.

There are historical precedents indicating potentially favorable periods for Bitcoin investment. However, these trends should be contextualized within the broader understanding of Bitcoin and blockchain technology's inherent unpredictability and price fluctuations. Unique considerations, such as Bitcoin halving, introduce an additional layer of complexity to Bitcoin's market behavior.

Recognizing these uncertainties and complexities, prospective investors should approach cryptocurrency investments and the market with a comprehensive understanding of these elements and a readiness to accept the associated risk. Implementing strategies such as diversification, staying abreast of market trends and seeking guidance from financial professionals can equip you to navigate the crypto landscape better.

Intermediate

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When Is The Best Time to Buy Bitcoin: Is There Even a Best Time?

Litecoin, Bitcoin and Ethereum are three of the most popular crypto, but how are they similar, and how are they different? Find out here.

Over the past few years, interest in cryptocurrencies has continued to surge. Despite the influx of new digital currencies, three cryptocurrencies have been around for over a decade and continue dominating the market. 

Bitcoin (BTC) has maintained its dominance in the space by remaining the top crypto overall. Ethereum (ETH) has turned out to be a worthy contender to Bitcoin through its innovative and thriving ecosystem. And another cryptocurrency that has continued to exert its dominance through the years is Litecoin (LTC). 

To learn more about these three cryptocurrencies, please refer to these articles:

In this article, we’ll be looking at the main differences between these three cryptocurrencies, and also analyze which is the best crypto to invest in. 

Bitcoin was founded in 2009. Since then, the cryptocurrency market has arguably gone through three bull markets, specifically in 2013, 2017 and, most recently, in 2020, a particularly prominent year with various altcoins reaching all-time highs alongside Bitcoin’s ATH of $69,000 in November 2021. 

Aside from these bull cycles, other market catalysts have included the explosion of 

, which have brought innovative products into the market. 

In addition, the periodic emergence of meme coins such as 

 (in 2013 and 2020, respectively) has expanded the crypto market.

Within the past decade, cryptocurrencies have been widely adopted, especially (for example) by companies such as Tesla, and institutional investors adding them to their investment portfolios. There’s also the unfolding potential of 

, which is expected to take the crypto industry to the next level of mass adoption.

As the earliest entrant into the crypto space, Bitcoin broke ground for the world to explore the possibilities of blockchain technology. The coin continues to hit a new high with every bull cycle. Part of its popularity is driven by the astronomical returns for those who bought it when it was trading below $100. 

Case in point: If you’d bought Bitcoin when it was at its low price of $67.81 on July 6, 2013 (almost 10 years ago) and held it, you’re up over 38,800% on your initial investment at the current price of $ 26,278 as of May 26, 2023. As such, Bitcoin is seen as a secure asset to store value for long-term investors. 

Bitcoin has remained the king of cryptocurrencies. Most of the time, 

 move in the direction that Bitcoin does. It also has a solid architecture that allows for fast and cheap cross-border payments, as compared to traditional banking systems. 

, Bitcoin is considered one of the safest cryptocurrencies you can hold. The coin has been around longer than any other, and hasn’t experienced any massive instability, unlike many of the newer cryptocurrencies in the market. 

Also, Bitcoin’s supply is becoming scarce with every 

, which occurs roughly every four years. Since Bitcoin becomes increasingly difficult to mine, this drives its value up. With the next halving expected to occur in April 2024, it’s expected that Bitcoin’s price will rally next year.

After Bitcoin, Ethereum is the second most popular cryptocurrency in the market. The community-ran platform introduced the world to the power of 

Ethereum’s popularity is driven by its secure technology, which has created a thriving developer ecosystem. Furthermore, the platform is continuously working to upgrade its operations to make them faster and cheaper. In 2021, Ethereum began its migration from a 

 (PoS) blockchain and successfully completed 

Ethereum also successfully underwent a major update known as the 

, which went live in April 2023. The upgrade allowed the withdrawal of ETH that had been staked for nearly two years on the platform.

Yes. The successful implementation of the Ethereum Shanghai upgrade has shone new light on Ethereum. It lets you unstake your tokens anytime (which was previously impossible, since they were indefinitely locked). The update is expected to attract more investors to the project, who can now secure the network without sacrificing liquidity. 

The successful completion of The Merge and other ongoing improvements on Ethereum’s platform are tackling the challenge of high gas fees, which have been an ongoing issue. Ethereum’s solid architecture, thriving ecosystem, stability over the years and continued upgrades to its platform make Ethereum a worthy crypto to invest in.

It’s currently ideal to invest in Litecoin, due to its thriving payment system and the much anticipated halving event coming in August 2023. 

Litecoin has been around since 2011, and has remained popular as one of the most preferred crypto payment methods worldwide. The digital currency has experienced phenomenal growth over the years. As a “lighter” version of Bitcoin, Litecoin continues providing crypto users a faster and more secure way to transact. 

The price of Litecoin has continued to surge in anticipation of the upcoming halving event. Many observers are bullish, because it will make it more challenging to mine LTC, thereby creating scarcity and driving the price of Litecoin up in the long run. 

Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum are all open-source software platforms, and their codes are publicly accessible. Despite all three cryptocurrencies being blockchain-based, there are certain underlying differences between them.

Let’s start off with some specific details pertaining to each of these cryptocurrencies.

Since blockchains are publicly shared ledgers, they require an effective, fair, real-time, dependable and secure mechanism to ensure that all transactions taking place on the network are genuine. 

The consensus mechanism is essentially a set of guidelines to determine the validity of contributions made by the participants of the blockchain. In a blockchain’s dynamically changing environment, all participants have to agree on a consensus on the ledger’s status before transactions can be confirmed.

: proof of work (PoW) and proof of stake (PoS).

Using PoW, Bitcoin and Litecoin rely on miners, who solve complex mathematical equations using specialized hardware to add blocks to the networks. On the other hand, the Ethereum blockchain uses PoS, whereby validators stake their currency to validate new blocks on the blockchain. PoS requires significantly less computational power than PoW, which lowers both hardware requirements and energy consumption.

 algorithm, which determines how incoming data is incorporated and verified on a blockchain, differs for the three cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin makes use of the SHA-256 algorithm and Litecoin uses 

, while Ethereum previously relied on Ethash, no longer relevant since the network has switched to PoS as part of its 

 utilized by Bitcoin uses the computational power of GPUs (graphics processing units) and, to a lesser extent, CPUs (central processing units) to verify transactions and blocks. The most common method for 

 (ASICs), a hardware system that can be tailor-made to mine Bitcoins. 

However, many people prefer not to use ASICs because they’re expensive, challenging to maintain and necessitate specialized knowledge. Bitcoin mining has become more centralized and exclusive because fewer people have the skills, resources and time to buy, set up and maintain ASICs. This centralization compromises the security and resilience of the network.

Scrypt is a modified version of SHA-256, but is more memory-intensive, which reputedly lessens its reliance on GPU arithmetic logic units (ALUs) and, consequently, ASIC mining equipment. Scrypt aims to make mining more accessible to individuals, as not all users can afford hardware equipment such as ASICs. This contributes to the decentralization of a blockchain network. 

Nonetheless, since 2021, when Scrypt ASIC mining machines were introduced, Litecoin mining has once again fallen under the control of a few dominant players.

Bitcoin and Litecoin each have a supply cap on the number of tokens, with Bitcoin’s set at 21 million and Litecoin’s at 84 million. Since Litecoin has four times the supply of tokens, its network possesses greater liquidity as compared to Bitcoin. However, the scarcity of Bitcoin makes it more valuable.

Ethereum, on the other hand, doesn’t have any ceiling for its supply of ETH. Nonetheless, its rate of growth is limited to 4.5% per annum.

Miners are rewarded for their efforts in the form of a blockchain’s native currency. 

In 2009, Bitcoin started off with a 50 Bitcoin reward per block mined. After going through three halvings, the reward is now set at 6.5 BTC.

Similarly, Litecoin began with a reward of 50 LTC per block mined. Following two halvings, the current reward stands at 12.5 LTC per block, with a third halving scheduled for 2023, which will reduce the reward to 6.25 LTC.

These rewards are halved in order to limit the quantity of each cryptocurrency released into the circulating supply, thus creating scarcity. Bitcoin block rewards are halved every 210,000 blocks, while Litecoin block rewards are halved every 840,000 blocks. This difference is proportional to the different supply cap.

Since Ethereum now utilizes a PoS consensus mechanism, there are no rewards for block mining. Instead, participants are rewarded by staking their Ether on the network to participate in block validation. Depending on the staking program in which users choose to participate, their rewards can fluctuate, anywhere from 2% to 20%.

Another significant difference among the three cryptocurrencies lies in each one’s 

Bitcoin processes approximately 5 TPS, and takes about 10 minutes to create a new block. In addition, its network’s software limits the size of a new block to 1MB. Not all Bitcoin transactions are processed within ten minutes. This is especially the case when the network is congested due to a large number of transactions.

Litecoin processes 54 TPS, taking approximately 2 1⁄2 minutes to create a new block. Transactions on Litecoin are roughly four times faster than Bitcoin’s. As a result, Litecoin is often regarded as a currency for day-to-day transactions, while Bitcoin is considered to be more of a store of value. With its recent upgrade, the Ethereum network is now able to handle up to 100,000 TPS. 

: Ethereum employs a different mechanism, called 

, in place of transaction fees. Ethereum’s gas fee ranges from $50 to $70.

One of the biggest issues for the Bitcoin network is scalability. The more users trying to send funds over the network at a given moment, the more congested the network becomes. Since transaction fees are defined on the basis of an auction, those who make higher bids get their transactions confirmed first. 

This leads to high network fees and longer confirmation times. Though Litecoin has much lower fees, its network experiences the same problem.

To speed up transaction times and lower transaction costs, Bitcoin and Litecoin have implemented some improvements. Among these are 

, which increases the block size limit by pulling signature data from transactions, and 

, a Layer 2 that opens up microchannels between transacting parties.

Since Ethereum has switched over to PoS, problems with scalability aren’t as prominent. However, scalability has been a major issue for the popular Ethereum network while it was using a PoW consensus. 

 solutions were implemented as a partial remedy for Ethereum’s former transaction rate of 12–15 TPS.

The use cases for each of these three cryptocurrencies differ quite drastically.

 was created as a form of technology to allow for decentralized 

 (P2P) payments, its slow transaction speed makes it impractical for daily use. It’s been referred to as 

 was forked from Bitcoin’s code to tackle issues of cost and scalability. These differences make Litecoin more favorable for merchants, since payments and transactions can be carried out quickly at a cheaper rate.

 focuses on smart contracts, transfer of asset ownership and DApp production. Smart contracts are software programs that take action when specific predetermined criteria are met. This procedure makes sure that every Ethereum transaction is secure for the user. 

Additionally, exchanges like the transfer of property or money may be included in the contracts. Ethereum’s unique feature is that it allows programmers to directly interact with its underlying network, a capability that Bitcoin and Litecoin do not support.

Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin are some of the most stable cryptocurrencies to invest in since they have solid architectures and have stood the test of time. However, when looking at the best crypto to invest in, it's essential to consider their market caps, prices and ongoing ecosystem developments. 

With Bitcoin’s halving not occurring until 2024, Litecoin looks to be the most profitable investment for now with it upcoming halving event that could see its prices soar in the short term. History has shown that a crypto's price often pumps right before such a monumental event, as investors anticipate a price rally in the following months. 

Furthermore, Litecoin has registered phenomenal growth, despite a slump in the crypto market due to bearish conditions. While nothing is guaranteed in the highly volatile crypto market, buying Litecoin could provide good returns. 

NOTE: While any one of these cryptocurrencies may be the most stable crypto to invest in, it should be noted that the crypto market itself is highly volatile, so always do your own research and invest only what you can afford to lose.

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Litecoin vs. Bitcoin vs. Ethereum: What are the Differences?

Four wallet addresses own more than 100,000 BTC each. But who are these billionaires & how much are private entities and investors investing in BTC now? Learn more.

While there are many decentralized digital currencies you can invest in, the most popular cryptocurrency at your disposal is

 (BTC). As of time of writing (May 16, 2023), BTC has a

 of $525 billion, an almost 35,000% jump since Bitcoin’s inception in 2009. 

Like all cryptocurrencies, the value attributed to Bitcoin can vary substantially based on numerous market factors. Despite the volatility of Bitcoin and other types of cryptocurrencies, it’s crucial to understand that Bitcoin is currently the most valuable cryptocurrency on the market. 

This article offers a comprehensive look at how Bitcoin gets its value, who owns the most Bitcoin, and how people and companies have become Bitcoin billionaires.

If you’re considering investing in Bitcoin, you may wonder what gives it its value.

Bitcoin is a form of digital currency considered to be an alternative to

, which is issued by governments. Since central banks control the amount of paper money being printed, this naturally gives central banks more control over economies.

 that records everything on a public ledger, making its network transparent and highly decentralized. 

Although Bitcoin isn’t widely used in the world economy, it gets its value from many different factors, and a comparison can be made between the value of gold and Bitcoin. 

Both of these commodities have very specific use cases and are limited in quantity. Like precious metals, Bitcoin is durable. However, it’s more “portable” than precious metals like gold, silver and platinum, more precisely divisible and, in some regards, safer. BTC is even referred to as “digital gold.”

 because they can function as both a unit of exchange and a store of value. Bitcoin also displays six core attributes that allow it to be used in the economy:

Since Bitcoin qualifies as a currency, it can retain a certain amount of value. One of the main reasons is the scarcity of its supply. In fact, the maximum number of bitcoins that can be mined is just under 21 million. This level of scarcity makes it possible for Bitcoin's value and market price to increase considerably over the years.

Before learning who owns the most Bitcoin, knowing how much Bitcoin can be introduced into the market is crucial. When Bitcoin was first created in 2009, a hard cap of nearly 21 million was placed on the number of bitcoins that could enter circulation. 

At the moment, the circulating Bitcoin supply is around 19.37 million. Limits have been placed on how much Bitcoin can be created each day, which means that the remaining bitcoins will be mined from now until 2140 through the process of 

, which progressively slows their mining.

Even though 19.37 million bitcoins should be on the market, it’s believed that around

 since the digital currency first entered circulation.

, the pseudonymous founder of Bitcoin, was putatively the first miner of the currency. Nakamoto mined over 22,000 blocks and received well over one million bitcoins as cumulative block rewards. His/her/their current ownership is estimated at around 1,000,000 BTC (worth $27.13 billion at the May 16, 2023 BTC price of $27,132). 

How Many Bitcoins Make You a Billionaire?

The extreme price fluctuations caused by volatility in the crypto market make it difficult to approximate how many Bitcoins you’d need to be a billionaire. Therefore, we use the current value of Bitcoin to calculate that amount, which, as of May 16, 2023, would be 36,857 bitcoins to be part of the BTC billionaires league. 

Apart from the anonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, several other Bitcoin 

 hold a significant amount of Bitcoin. These are individuals, institutions, governments, exchanges and companies. 

Due to their status, some of these whale individuals have become crypto influencers, using their online presence to share knowledge and sentiments about the crypto market. Some of the notable Bitcoin billionaires are as follows.

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, popularly known as the Winklevoss twins, revealed in 2013 that they had bought 1% of the total Bitcoin supply. The twins, who are the founders of Gemini crypto exchange, 

, with a current value of about $18.67 billion. 

The Winklevoss twins purportedly lost over 60% of their BTC wealth following the

Venture capitalist and early Bitcoin investor Tim Draper is said to have bought 29,656 Bitcoins recovered by the U.S. Marshals Service from the infamous 

 dark web market. Draper, who invested early in leading tech companies such as Skype and Tesla, is a Bitcoin bull who’s vocal about the bright future of the world's largest cryptocurrency. 

While popular crypto influencer Michael J. Saylor may not qualify as a Bitcoin billionaire per se, he's a well-known Bitcoin whale. In 2021, he revealed that he privately possessed at least 17,732 bitcoins. Furthermore, his firm, MicroStrategy, reportedly holds 

Due to the anonymity of Bitcoin transactions and

, it’s hard to trace the exact amount of BTC that one holds 

 unless they choose to reveal that information. However, there are some other whales rumored to hold a large amount of Bitcoin, including Brian Armstrong (Coinbase CEO) and Changpeng Zhao (Binance CEO). 

Bitcoin ownership can be identified by looking at the addresses of bitcoins in circulation. As of today,

Apart from Satoshi, the other four addresses belong to Binance, Bitfinex and two unknown identities. 

There are an additional 112 owners who hold anywhere from 10,000–100,000 BTC. These 112 addresses hold a little over 12% of all the total bitcoins in circulation. 

Bitcoin Distribution. Source: River Financial

Rather than own Bitcoin directly, some investors have been turning to financial institutions offering Bitcoin-related products. These institutions invest in Bitcoin through trusts and funds. 

 currently holds around $17.4 billion worth of Bitcoin, while the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, 

Companies have also been buying into Bitcoin through their treasuries in a bid to hedge against inflation and diversify their portfolios. 

Notable publicly traded companies holding a significant amount of Bitcoin include MicroStrategy, with around 132,000 BTC, and Galaxy Digital Holdings (a Bitcoin mining firm), which has about 16,000 BTC. 

Private companies also hold around 1.5% of the total Bitcoin supply. The highest-profile private owner of Bitcoin is Block.one, a blockchain company with around 140,000 BTC. 

Governments worldwide also own significant amounts of Bitcoin either through acquiring it as a reserve asset, or confiscating it due to alleged criminal activity. However, it's difficult to approximate the actual amount of BTC held by various governments, due to the many agencies involved in the process. 

For the U.S. government, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is said to possess

. Of these, 144,000 were recovered from the Silk Road saga and others from 

. Additionally, the U.S. Marshals Service, which has the mandate to sell seized Bitcoin, is said to have 

 holding a substantial amount of Bitcoin include those of China (roughly 194,000 BTC) and Bulgaria (over 200,000 BTC). 

What Does It Mean for Institutions to Own So Much Bitcoin?

In general, the fact that institutions own a sizable percentage of Bitcoin isn’t a substantial problem in and of itself. In fact, when companies such as Tesla invest in Bitcoin, the use of BTC becomes more widely accepted. As 

more and more institutions invest in Bitcoin, its adoption as a standard currency may eventually increase — with fewer limitations.

 is simple. Once you’ve created an account, you can choose to purchase BTC with a wide variety of major fiat currencies, including 

BRL, ARS, EUR, GBP and RUB, which can be made via bank transfers

. Alternatively, link your debit or credit card to purchase BTC on Bybit or engage in 

 to select your own preferred payment method. You can also choose to trade and deposit BTC with Bybit. There are multiple ways to trade BTC, as either a

What Happens After All the Bitcoins Are Mined?

Predicting what will occur once all bitcoins have been mined can be difficult because of the developing cryptocurrency ecosystem. However, the economics of Bitcoin will invariably change once all 21,000,000 bitcoins are in circulation.

For instance, traders and miners will have dissimilar incentives. Instead of receiving block rewards, miners could earn revenues and profits from transaction fees. The truth is, even if one may own a significant amount of Bitcoin, they don’t possess any control over the Bitcoin network. Therefore, predicting what will happen is relatively impossible.

Bitcoin is a highly popular cryptocurrency, and can easily be purchased on your preferred exchange. Even though the value of Bitcoin is somewhat volatile, its scarcity has allowed it to reach a current value of more than $27,000.

Now that you know who owns the most Bitcoin, and what types of institutions invest in this currency, you can get started with making your next investment.

Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, is the largest Bitcoin holder to date, with a stash of 1,000,000 Bitcoins. 

. However, the exact number is difficult to calculate, due to the anonymity of Bitcoin addresses and the volatility of crypto.

Bulgaria is allegedly the country with the highest amount of Bitcoin, about 213,519 BTC. 

There's a total and finite supply of 21 million BTC, with all of those coins expected to be mined by 2140. 

Beginner

Bitcoin Mempool

Who Owns the Most Bitcoin Now? (2023)

Bitcoin Pizza Day is a monumental event in Bitcoin history that celebrates the first real-world Bitcoin transaction on May 22, 2010.

Did you know that Bitcoin was first used to buy pizza? In the early days of Bitcoin, proponents were bullish on its potential. However, few people had the foresight to see just how valuable Bitcoin would become. The crypto community celebrates Bitcoin Pizza Day each year in recognition of the first real-life transaction using Bitcoin. This annual event symbolizes Bitcoin's humble beginnings and digital currencies' transformative potential. Reflecting on the exponential rise in Bitcoin's value since its early days teaches us the valuable lesson that remarkable developments often require time. 

Bitcoin Pizza Day isn’t merely a milestone event in the history of Bitcoin; the story itself offers a lesson in patience. Laszlo Hanyecz was an early Bitcoin miner in 2010. At that time, miners earned 50 BTC per block. Mining competition was minimal, because Bitcoin was still in its infancy and it was relatively easy for miners to amass a large stash of tokens. 

While thousands of merchants now accept Bitcoin payments for all sorts of transactions, back in 2020, no one had ever used cryptocurrency to complete a real-life transaction before. As an early Bitcoin adopter, Hanyecz made an example of Bitcoin’s practicality by using his bitcoins to purchase two Papa John's pizzas. Hanyecz placed his 

offering to pay 10,000 BTC in exchange for the delivery of two pizzas. It took four days until a 19-year-old student named Jeremy Sturdivant accepted the offer. 

Bitcoin Pizza Day has become a monumental event in Bitcoin history, celebrating Bitcoin’s prominence as the world’s largest crypto in terms of 

While Bitcoin launched more than 14 years ago with the mining of its 

, Bitcoin Pizza Day is only one of several notable milestones in its seminal decade-plus history. BTC has navigated through several hurdles, such as 

,, exceptional volatility and more. However, the Bitcoin community has continued to grow, and BTC is increasingly used for everything from buying NFTs to investing in real estate. Let’s look at some of its key milestones.

Altcoins

Blockchain

Crypto

DeFi

GameFi

Indicators

Investing

Metaverse

Memes

Options

Stablecoin

Staking

Strategies

Trading

Web 3.0

Bitcoin

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