Bitcoin’s record-breaking rally hasn’t just sent shockwaves through the crypto markets it’s also shaken up the ranks of the world’s wealthiest. The cryptocurrency’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, has quietly climbed into the billionaire elite, now outranking some of the most recognizable names in business.
Satoshi Becomes the 12th Richest Person
Fresh data from Arkham Intelligence shows that Satoshi’s Bitcoin stash roughly 1.096 million BTC is now valued at $130.7 billion. That puts him in 12th place on the global rich list, surpassing Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, whose wealth sits at about $122 billion according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.
Just above Gates are Walmart heirs Jim Walton ($125 billion) and Rob Walton ($122 billion), both now trailing behind the elusive Bitcoin founder.
The Bitcoin Surge Behind the Wealth Jump
This wealth leap comes as Bitcoin trades just above $119,100 after cooling off from a fresh all-time high above $124,000 earlier this week. At that peak, Satoshi’s holdings briefly soared to over $136 billion.
The meteoric rise is a reminder of just how far Bitcoin has come from being worth less than $1 in its early days to a staggering 192 million percent gain overall. In 2025 alone, the cryptocurrency is up 105% year-to-date.
A Fortune That’s Never Been Spent
Despite holding one of the largest personal fortunes on Earth, Satoshi’s wallet has remained untouched for years. The identity behind the pseudonym is still unknown, and movements in the wallet are incredibly rare.
In fact, only two small incoming transactions have been recorded this year:
- June 30, 2025 – 0.185 BTC (about $20,000) sent from an unknown address.
- February 2025 – BTC worth about $200,000 sent from a Binance user’s account.
Analysts believe these transfers were either accidental due to incorrect address inputs or symbolic gestures from Bitcoin supporters showing appreciation.
A similar event happened in January 2024, when 26.9 BTC (then worth $1.19 million) was sent to another Satoshi-linked genesis wallet, just two days after Bitcoin’s 15th anniversary. That wallet now holds 104.3 BTC, valued at roughly $12.4 million today.
What’s Next for Satoshi’s Ranking?
If Bitcoin keeps climbing, Satoshi could rise even higher in the billionaire rankings, potentially surpassing even more household names. Whether or not his fortune is ever moved or spent remains a mystery but for now, the Bitcoin creator is quietly sitting on one of the largest fortunes in history.
