Large-scale entities hold approximately one-fifth of the overall Bitcoin inventory
In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, institutional investors have significantly increased their presence in the Bitcoin market. As of mid-2025, these entities collectively hold approximately 17.3% of Bitcoin’s total supply, amounting to over 3.6 million BTC.
The breakdown of these holdings reveals that ETFs are the largest institutional holders, with over 1.49 million BTC (~7.1% of total supply) locked in these funds. Public companies, such as MicroStrategy and Tesla, hold about 935,498 BTC (~4.46% of supply). MicroStrategy alone owns around 628,946 BTC (~3%). Private companies hold approximately 426,237 BTC (~2.03% of supply), while DeFi protocols collectively hold around 267,236 BTC (~1.27% of supply). BTC mining companies own about 109,808 BTC (~0.52% of supply).
The value of these institutional holdings is substantial, with ETFs alone holding roughly $33.6 billion in Q2 2025. Despite this, retail investors still dominate spot ETF flows, with institutional allocations in ETFs remaining below 10% in some reports.
Estimates that include governments and all institutional categories sometimes place total institutional Bitcoin ownership between 17% and nearly 31% of the total supply. This reflects differences in report scope and data cutoff dates.
The increase in institutional control of Bitcoin represents a 924% growth compared to a decade ago. Government-held reserves are included in the institutional ownership of Bitcoin, with the United States establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in March 2025, filled with seized and confiscated digital assets. Other governments, like El Salvador and Bhutan, are also accumulating Bitcoin through intentional and continuous purchases.
In summary, the institutional Bitcoin ownership by category as a percentage of total supply in mid-2025 is as follows:
| Category | BTC Held | % of Total Supply (approx.) | |----------------------|--------------|-----------------------------| | ETFs | 1,490,000+ | 7.1% | | Public Companies | 935,498 | 4.46% | | Private Companies | 426,237 | 2.03% | | DeFi Protocols | 267,236 | 1.27% | | BTC Mining Companies | 109,808 | 0.52% | | Governments (subset) | Included in total estimates but not precisely quantified |
This collective holding represents approximately 17.344% of the total Bitcoin supply. As Bitcoin becomes less accessible to small traders and increasingly a playing field for large Wall Street institutions, it's clear that the digital asset is establishing itself as a core portfolio asset, supported by ETF democratization, corporate treasury allocations, and macroeconomic tailwinds in 2025.
Technology plays a crucial role in facilitating the growth of institutional investing in Bitcoin, as it enables secure and efficient platforms for buying, storing, and managing digital assets.
In the first half of 2026, it's worth exploring other financial instruments infused with technology, such as digitized bonds or blockchain-based securities, to further diversify institutional portfolios and minimize risks associated with volatility in the Bitcoin market.
