Recent data from financial firm River highlights that the majority of circulating Bitcoin is owned by individuals. This information underscores the significant disparity between retail and institutional investors.
Bitcoin Ownership Statistics
According to River, as of July 14, 2025, individual wallets control 14 million BTC, accounting for over 66% of the total supply. In contrast, institutional players, including corporations, funds, and governments, collectively hold only about 13.8% of the total Bitcoin.
Missed Opportunities for Institutions
The report indicates that everyday users have had over 15 years to accumulate Bitcoin before financial giants began actively entering the market. Now, institutions looking to enter must do so in a market with limited liquidity and rising prices.
Market Development Prospects
Certain macroeconomic factors, such as increasing ETF interest and corporate treasury strategies, could escalate pressure on the circulating Bitcoin supply. If such trends persist, the next phase of Bitcoin's evolution may be determined not by early adopters, but by how much latecomers are willing to pay to catch up.
The data indicates that retail investors remain the primary holders of Bitcoin. With limited supply and the desire of institutional investors to enter the market, Bitcoin's future may depend on price dynamics and the ability of institutions to adapt.
