The ownership of Bitcoin is changing as institutional investors now hold 31% of all known Bitcoin assets, a significant increase from 14% earlier in 2023.
This shift in ownership is driven by various factors, including the introduction of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), government acquisitions, and the aggressive Bitcoin strategy employed by MicroStrategy.
The launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs has attracted billions of dollars from traditional financial institutions. For example, BlackRock's iShares reported $1.4 billion in net weekly inflows. These ETFs now account for over 1.3 million BTC, valued at approximately $124.89 billion.
MicroStrategy has emerged as a major player in the Bitcoin market, holding around 2% of Bitcoin's circulating supply.
Aside from institutional investors, other private entities such as Block.one, Tether, SpaceX, and even Mt. Gox also hold significant amounts of Bitcoin.
Furthermore, governments, including the United States, China, Bhutan, and El Salvador, are also becoming major players in the Bitcoin market.
The increasing presence of institutional investors and governments in the Bitcoin market indicates a maturation of the cryptocurrency landscape. This trend has potential implications for price stability and mainstream adoption.